Wendy Williams' Ex-Husband Sues Her Guardian, the Judge Presiding Over Her Case and Others for $250 Million on Her Behalf

Williams' ex-husband Kevin Hunter claims she was "abused, neglected, and defrauded" in the June 17 complaint 

By Liza Esquibias and Danielle Bacher 

NEED TO KNOW

• Williams' ex-husband Kevin Hunter has filed a lawsuit — which he claims is on her behalf — for $250 million against 48 defendants who he claims participated in the implementation of her guardianship
• Williams was first placed under a legal guardianship in 2022 and it was later revealed that she had been diagnosed with dementia
• The lawsuit is not seeking an end to the guardianship, but is requesting a new legal guardian

Wendy Williams' ex-husband Kevin Hunter is taking legal action against the facilitators of her years-long guardianship.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Hunter filed a lawsuit — which he claims is on her behalf — demanding a jury trial on Tuesday, June 17, which named 48 defendants who he claims have violated her constitutional rights. Among them are her legal guardian Sabrina Morrissey, the judge presiding over the guardianship Lisa Sokoloff, Wells Fargo, her assisted living facility and several lawyers.

“Guardianship is a civil death. In New York, more than 28,000 adults, which includes [Williams], are being abused, neglected, and defrauded under the care of court-appointed guardians," the complaint alleges.

However, LaShawn Thomas, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, acknowledged in a statement to PEOPLE that Williams is "not legally aware of all of the evidence that supports our claims that she should not be forced to suffer from this guardianship."

"I plan on laying out sufficient evidence to support our claims and ensure that her rights are vindicated and she is made whole financially," the statement continued.

PEOPLE has reached out to Morrissey, Hunter, Sokoloff, Schiller and the assisted care living facility for comment while Wells Fargo declined to comment.

The filing notes that the lawsuit is not seeking an end to Williams' guardianship; however, Hunter's requests include “new impartial guardian," the unsealing of her case’s files, her release from “involuntary confinement,” a full forensic accounting and $250 million in relief for financial loss, reputational damage and harm, emotional distress, legal expenses and deprivation of liberty.

Hunter is named as a co-plaintiff in the case, and is seeking appointment as Williams’ “next friend,” which is a party who can legally act “on behalf of an individual unable to assert their own rights and when no guardian is acting in their best interests," per the complaint.

The complaint alleges that the proper legal standards were not met in the implementation of her guardianship.

In the complaint, Hunter claims that Williams “has been the victim of unrestrained abuse, maltreatment, and fiscal malfeasance” in the three years since her guardianship was first imposed, in what he alleges was “a secret proceeding” where she was not provided the opportunity to obtain "adequate legal representation.” At the time, it was attributed to her dementia diagnosis, although she has since denied being cognitively impaired.

The complaint further alleges that Williams “was not afforded an independent medical evaluation” before being placed under a guardianship and has since been “subjected to overmedication and undue restrictions.”

Hunter claims Williams has been taken advantage of by several people involved.

When she was placed in her assisted-living facility, Hunter via the complaint alleges Williams' care specialist took photos of her “in a state of undress without consent, disclosed [Williams’] location to third parties, and sold or attempted to sell the images and information to media outlets.”

Hunter is also accusing Judge Sokoloff of not allowing Williams' retained counsel to submit filings, make appearances in court and have access to previously filed documents.

“[Williams] remains a captive of a corrupt, criminal enterprise, and Plaintiffs submit this action to the Court in hopes of freeing her from this fraudulent bondage,” according to the complaint, which slams the guardianship as “a weapon, not a shield.”

Hunter makes accusations against the judge's bias in Williams' case.

In addition to claims that she passed “a competency evaluation” in March, which Morrissey previously told PEOPLE Williams “declined to participate in,” Hunter cites Williams' 2024 tax lien, the loss of profit on her NYC penthouse and the sale of her personal items as examples of financial mismanagement. 

Hunter, who estimates that Williams' has lost $20 million per year in earnings from not being able to work, also alleges that her son was not given access to his college fund and accuses the defendants of using her money to pay for the case against her.

Moreover, she claims her Wells Fargo financial advisor Lori Schiller paid a total of $60,000 from Williams' account to Dr. Rami Kaminski, who allegedly wrote the January 2022 medical opinion letter stating Williams “had impaired judgment and was incapable of making reasoned decisions.” Williams' lawyers allege they have information showing that Wells Fargo and her court-appointed attorney Linda Redlisky "are financial contributors to Judge Lisa Sokoloff’s re-election campaign."

“Beginning in February 2022, a coordinated and coercive campaign to silence and isolate [Williams] was executed through judicial orders and extrajudicial acts, depriving [Williams] of access to counsel, family, communication tools, and the ability to control her own narrative,” the complaint reads. 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams' Ex-Husband Sues Her Guardian, the Judge Presiding Over Her Case and Others for $250 Million on Her Behalf 

See Also:
Guardianship Judge to Wendy Williams on Career: "It's Done"

Wendy Williams Originally Asked for a Guardianship, but Didn't 'Think Her Whole Life Would Be Taken Away' (Exclusive Source) 

Wendy Williams wants ‘to move on with my life’ despite guardianship: How she got here 

Wendy Williams begs medical guardian to 'get off my neck' as she insists she's not mentally incapacitated 

Wendy Williams's Ex-Husband Files to End Guardianship Without Her Knowledge

Wendy Williams' ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, has filed to end her guardianship, without Wendy's knowledge (per TMZ).  

Source:
Wendy Williams's Ex-Husband Files to End Guardianship Without Her Knowledge 

Chester County leaders dodge questions on Maisano’s record as guardian, expert witness, and bogus degrees

by Todd Shepherd

With one lone exception, Chester County’s top elected officials are refusing to comment on Treasurer Patricia Maisano, a woman who has twice faced credible accusations of financially exploiting elderly wards in her care while serving as a court-appointed guardian, according to a Broad + Liberty report published Monday.

Additionally, top officials in the county Democratic Party like Chairwoman Charlotte Valyo and Vice Chair Jerry Pyne also refused to offer any comment on Maisano’s past, including the fact that for years, Maisano has boasted of having a masters and doctorate degrees, but those degrees came from a diploma mill.

Only Republican County Commissioner Eric Roe acknowledged the report and the problems it conveyed.

“These allegations, if true, are really alarming. I hope Treasurer Maisano will address them publicly,” Roe said. “After all, the voters and taxpayers of Chester County have an important decision to make this November. Now more than ever, Chester County needs trustworthy elected officials who will look out for taxpayers.”

Democratic commissioners Josh Maxwell and Marian Moskowitz did not respond to a request for comment. U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan, whose 6th Congressional District encompasses all of Chester County, also did not respond.

Maisano has for years worked as an expert witness in court cases, a role in which the expert can usually charge hourly fees similar to that of a licensed attorney. She has also been a guardian of elderly wards, a role in which she might have complete legal and financial power over an elderly person who has been deemed incapacitated by the courts.

The Broad + Liberty investigation published Monday uncovered two cases in which Maisano was accused of fleecing her wards while working under her corporate name, IKOR. In one of those instances, the accusation wasn’t from a family member, but from a court-appointed factfinder stemming from a dispute in a guardianship in Delaware.

“IKOR, for their part, egregiously overbills. There is no way to soften, sugar coat, or otherwise explain this finding,” the factfinder wrote. “[A] thorough review of twenty-one (21) IKOR invoices from February 2007 through November 2008 evidenced disturbing billing trends and tens of thousands of dollars in overbilled amounts.”

A second attorney was also appointed by the same court to double-check the efforts of the first factfinder, and this second review resulted in the same conclusions.

“I have to agree with [the first factfinder’s] assessment that IKOR engaged in a pattern of significant and systematic over billing [sic] in the instant matter such that the disabled person was egregiously overcharged for professional guardianship [of the property] services rendered to it by IKOR,” the second reviewer found.

The original factfinder recommended IKOR’s billings of $104,000 be cut by $46,987.86, a suggestion the second attorney ultimately agreed with.

Those new revelations came on top of previous reporting about Maisano’s controversial past.

In a December report, Broad + Liberty highlighted that Maisano had been excluded from court cases in which she was an expert witness because her expertise was questionable.

“Here, the Report [authored by Maisano] contains two and a half pages of vague and conclusory assertions that Plaintiff has PTSD, and that Defendant is the direct cause of this ailment,” a judge wrote in one of the cases. “Nowhere in the Report does Maisano explain the criteria that she used to diagnose or confirm that Plaintiff has PTSD, nor does she explain how she came to the opinion that Defendant was the direct cause of Plaintiff’s psychological ailments.”

In October 2021, Broad + Liberty reported that Maisano’s masters and doctorate degrees were from Sheffield State University, a known diploma mill. This outlet went as far as trying to verify if Maisano had ever attended the University of Sheffield — a real university — but a spokesman with the university said it could find no records of her. (Broad + Liberty provided the university with other surnames beyond Maisano.)

Additionally, Maisano has never refuted the idea that her graduate degrees are not legitimate, and has never responded to numerous requests for comment about the matter.

Currently, Maisano’s professional website, Varna LLC, advertises her as an expert witness on elder abuse. 

The website for Chester County Democrats, meanwhile, lists Maisano among its endorsed candidates for the upcoming local elections this November.

Commissioner Roe’s statement seems to allude to another scandal lurking in the background. Last October, the county prothonotary resigned under a cloud of suspicion regarding financial irregularities in her office. 

Full Article & Source:
Chester County leaders dodge questions on Maisano’s record as guardian, expert witness, and bogus degrees 

Cher Begged Court for a Conservatorship Before Son Elijah’s Hospitalization

Cher has spoken about her son's issues with substance abuse.  

by Megan Elliott

Cher’s son Elijah Blue Allman was rushed to the hospital on June 14.  

On Saturday, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and EMS workers responded to a call about a man acting erratically. The 48-year-old son of the of the Mermaids star and musician Gregg Allman was taken to the hospital. Deputies also found drugs inside his home. 

Cher claimed her son was unable to manage his finances 

Elijah’s brush with the law is the latest in a series of personal challenges for the musician. A year and a half ago, his 79-year-old mother requested a temporary conservatorship over his estate. 

In December 2023, the “If I Could Turn Back Time” singer asked a court to grant her control over her son’s finances because of his substance abuse issues. Elijah was “substantially unable to manage his financial resources,” she argued, adding that a conservator was “urgently needed” because he was supposed to receive significant assets from a trust at the end of 2023. 

“Elijah is entitled to regular distributions from the Trust, but given his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues, [Cher] is concerned that any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah’s life at risk,” Cher said in court documents obtained by People. 

Cher and Elijah eventually reached a private agreement and she withdrew her petition for a conservatorship. 

Elijah Allman’s wife says he has an ‘unwavering commitment to sobriety’

After Saturday’s incident, Elijah’s estranged wife Marieangela King Allman said she still supported her husband despite his “personal challenges.” She added that he had an “unwavering commitment to sobriety.” 

“Like many, he continues to confront his inner struggles — but it is important to recognize that he does so from a place of strength, not defeat,” she said in a statement shared with People. “Despite the assumptions that often color how his journey is portrayed, the reality is that Elijah remains grounded, focused and deeply committed to living with integrity and purpose.”

“I want to state, without hesitation, that I will always root for him,” she added. “My support is steadfast and comes from a place of deep respect for the person he is and the resilience he continues to show.”

Marieangela previously accused Cher of trying to have Elijah kidnapped as part of an intervention, an allegation the singer has denied. 

In a statement to People in 2023, Cher said she was dealing with a struggle sadly familiar to many American families. 

“I’m not suffering from any problem that millions of people in the United States aren’t,” Cher  said of her Elijah’s struggles with drug use. “I’m a mother. This is my job — one way or another, to try to help my children. You do anything for your children. Whenever you can help them, you just do it because that’s what being a mother is. But it’s joy, even with heartache — mostly, when you think of your children, you just smile and you love them, and you try to be there for them.”  

Full Article & Source:
Cher Begged Court for a Conservatorship Before Son Elijah’s Hospitalization 

See Also:
Cher Ends Conservatorship Battle With Son Elijah Blue Allman

Singer Cher Agrees to 'Pause' Fight to Place Troubled Son Elijah Allman Under Conservatorship After He Demands Sanctions Over Subpoenas

Cher’s Son Argues She’s ‘Unfit to Serve’ as His Conservator

Cher dealt another blow in her request for temporary conservatorship over her son

Look, I Don't Need Conservatorship ... Plenty Reasons Why!!!

Cher Files for Conservatorship of Son Elijah Blue Allman

Elijah Blue Allman Contests Cher's Request for Conservatorship

Cher's Son Elijah Blue Allman Looks Clean-cut in First Sighting Since Conservatorship Victory 

Eldercare Nightmare: A Tragic Family Story Raises the Specter of Widespread Guardianship Fraud

by JC Hallman

In 2021, Vietnam veteran Leroy Theodore, Sr., of New Orleans, suffered two catastrophic strokes that left him quadriplegic, unable to communicate apart from answering questions with eye movements.

Theodore’s life became a nightmarish tour through health systems in Louisiana and Oklahoma, bouncing from hospital to hospital for several years, until 2024 when one of his daughters, Valerie Parks, having completed training in order to care for her father, was able to provide a bedroom in her Sapulpa home that had been transformed into a fully outfitted hospital room.

In early April, the trach tube that Theodore needed in order to breathe properly became blocked and his breathing became strained; Parks called an ambulance to take him to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.

The nightmare got worse.

Without warning, St. Francis seized control of Theodore, 76, initiating an effort to obtain legal guardianship over his finances and health decisions, a legally murky practice that in the last decade has come to be associated with fraud.

Parks said she and her siblings were denied access to Theodore, even though Parks had been granted power of attorney over her father. The family called the police, but no report was made because Adult Protective Services had been called. The family was told they had to leave the hospital property.

They would not set eyes on Theodore again for one and a half months.

In that time, a saga would unspool involving St. Francis, the judicial system, APS and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services that would raise the specter of a horrifying proposition.

In recent years, elder guardianship scams have become common across the country. Hospitals and nursing homes have sought and obtained legal guardianship over thousands of poor and elderly adults for financial gain. A survey of recent literature on the subject reveals that millions of dollars are at stake, in what may be bilked of patients and the government in Medicaid fraud and what may be awarded when fraud is exposed and punished.

The case of Leroy Theodore suggests that a nationwide plague of guardianship abuse may have arrived in Oklahoma.

Charges of Neglect Were Unsubstantiated

St. Francis Health System has refused all requests for comment on this story.

St. Francis had a history with Theodore; he had been in and out of St. Francis facilities, most recently in January.

At that time, St. Francis initiated an investigation with APS based on a claim of caretaker neglect; Parks was incapable of caring for her father, it was said.

On March 10, APS Specialist Abby Walden issued a report after visiting Parks and Theodore in Sapulpa: the allegations of neglect were unsubstantiated, Walden’s report concluded.

After that, Parks and her siblings said, St. Francis began to quash the flow of supplies that Parks needed to properly care for her father, including products intended to keep his trach tube clean.

In April, the trach tube began to crust over, resulting in difficulty breathing; trained in trach tube care, Parks removed Theodore’s tube before calling an ambulance.

Since then, family members said, the hospital and APS have offered conflicting explanations for the effort to seize guardianship of Theodore: the removal of the trach tube and long-standing bedsore problems.

It wouldn’t be that easy to win guardianship.

On April 25, Parks and her siblings initiated their own action; Creek County District Court Judge Pam Hammons awarded a 30-day guardianship to Parks and a sister and brother, Larissa Dudkiewicz and Leroy Theodore, Jr.

Four days later, on April 29, Tulsa County District Court Judge Loretta Radford awarded a 30-day guardianship to the APS division of DHS.

It was a standoff.

By that point, Theodore’s family didn’t even know where he was.

Down to the Bone

Leroy Theodore served in Vietnam when he was very young, so long ago that his family wasn’t sure what he’d done during the war. It had to do with supplies, and it was sometimes dangerous.

“He made it through Agent Orange and all that,” Parks said.

He returned home to New Orleans and fathered three girls and a boy; a marriage didn’t survive, but the family did, even as a move first took all of them to New York. Eventually, Theodore returned to Louisiana and the children spread out across the country.

One daughter, now deceased, settled in Moore.

After Theodore’s first stroke in 2021, a stent surgery at Tulane Hospital intended to prevent future strokes caused his second stroke by mistake, which resulted in his entire body locking up, his family said.

His children descended on New Orleans to care for him.

“Every day I would teach him the word,” Parks said.

Theodore was moved to a nursing home, but it was a disaster; within weeks, he developed bedsores that cut down to the bone.

The family decided to take him to Oklahoma, inventing a makeshift ambulance for the 10-hour drive.

As each of the surviving children arranged to relocate to Oklahoma, St. Francis performed a surgery on Theodore for his bedsores; Parks lived in a hotel while she was searching for a home and training in trach care.

Theodore bounced from St. Francis to swing beds and long-term acute care hospitals, known as LTACHs.

At one of the LTACHs,  the family said, they found maggots in Theodore’s bed.

The family was left with the sense that the hospitals wanted to put Theodore on hospice care and let him die; that’s not what their father wanted.

“He’s fighting to live,” Parks said.

When Parks was seeking power of attorney, a lawyer was brought in to bear witness to Theodore’s wishes; Theodore signaled yes by looking up, no by looking down.

When Theodore was asked if he wanted Parks to make his decisions for him, his eyes went up; when he was asked if he wanted to be on hospice, his eyes went down.

“Oh, yeah, that’s clear as day,” the family recalled the lawyer saying.

This is Probably New to Oklahoma

In May, the family said, the Tulsa judge, Radford, called them on the phone with an APS lawyer on the line to ask them to drop their guardianship status.

They refused.

Radford told the family she would call the Creek County judge, Hammons. A short time later, Hammons vacated the family’s guardianship, and Radford awarded temporary guardianship to APS, pending a hearing scheduled for July 1.

Radford, Hammons, the APS, DHS, and a public defender assigned to Theodore in Tulsa all refused comment for this story.

In recent years, guardianship schemes ranging from defrauding Medicaid to the outright looting of individual estates in New York, Nevada, and Virginia have received extensive coverage from ProPublica, The New Yorker and the Richmond Times-Dispatch. A common refrain in the coverage is the scarcity of reliable data on the breadth of the problem.

Experts estimate that 1.5 million individuals are under some form of guardianship in the United States, but that’s a guess. A 2015 New York Times piece, “To Collect Debts, Nursing Homes are Seizing Control Over Patients,” lamented the dearth of information.

“Throughout the country, data is lacking on the most basic facts about guardianships, even how many there are,” the Times said.

“The Use and Misuse of Guardianship by Hospitals and Nursing Homes,” by Michigan Elder Justice Initiative Director Alison Hirschel and National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care Executive Director Lori Smetanka, list numerous financial incentives for hospitals seeking dubious guardianships.

Ensuring hospital bill payment, avoiding penalties for excess readmissions and fear of negative media coverage for discharging incapacitated patients may motivate an institution to seize control of a patient, regardless of the wishes of the patient or the patient’s family.

“Petitions for guardianship filed by hospitals or nursing homes should be viewed cautiously—especially because of the extraordinary imbalance of power between the healthcare institution and the individual,” Hirschel and Smetanka wrote. “Great care should be taken to avoid conflicts of interest when health care facilities are involved in the litigation.”

The Richmond Times-Dispatch came to very similar conclusions after a year-long investigation of hundreds of guardianship cases involving low-income patients and the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. Veronica Williams, a Newport News elder law attorney heavily consulted for the Times-Dispatch story, said that hospitals may pursue inappropriate guardianship petitions even when a suitable caregiver is available, either because a hospital wishes to move a patient out of an acute care bed or because of disagreement over the family’s treatment preferences.

The cases described in the Times-Dispatch’s comprehensive three-part series bear an uncanny similarity to the case of Leroy Theodore.

In a 2021 article for the Oklahoma Bar Journal, Edmond elder law attorney Sarah C. Stewart praised laws that were passed to protect vulnerable adults. Those measures may not have been enough.

“The circumstances surrounding guardianships have always been ripe for abuse,” Stewart said. “Those who wish to harm the vulnerable have used these laws to embezzle assets and take away the rights of those who cannot protect themselves.”

The State of Tulsa

Oklahoma Watch met with an individual who has intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the St. Francis Health Care System. The individual described a sudden and recent uptick in the number of instances in which the hospital has sought legal guardianship of low-income individuals.

The guardianships were a closely guarded secret, the person said. The individual said that as many as 15 people under guardianship were being hidden at the Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital, attached to the St. Francis campus in South Tulsa.

To repeat, St. Francis refused all comment for this story.

Esther Houser served as the Oklahoma Long-Term Care Ombudsman for many years before retiring a decade ago, though she has remained in close contact with her successor and with APS staff.

Houser recalled attending conferences and learning of bad practices that might make their way to Oklahoma; she attempted to install best practices to head off abuses, but said that times seem to have changed.

Provided with the details of Theodore’s predicament, Houser was incredulous.

“That’s the most bizarre story I think I’ve ever heard,” Houser said. “There are times when hospitals and families are in conflict about who is abusing who, but in a creepy way, it’s human trafficking.”

Houser offered praise for APS, but acknowledged that the service varied county to county; she recalled Tulsa as a wholly different breed of cat.

“We used to refer to Tulsa DHS as the State of Tulsa, because they would just do things their own way and say they were using a different model,” Houser said.

Models aside, there was no explanation for why Theodore’s family had been denied access to him.

“Even a guardian cannot restrict access unless there is special permission from a judge,” Houser said.

When Houser became aware of Theodore’s predicament, she contacted the head of APS and her successor at the ombudsman’s office, William Whited, triggering an inquiry into the case.

The ongoing investigation may take weeks to complete, Whited said in an email.

You Know Why

It’s unclear whether the July 1 hearing specified in Judge Radford’s order awarding guardianship to APS will be affected by the investigation from the ombudsman’s office.

Regardless, the order revealed Theodore’s location: Cross Timbers Nursing and Rehabilitation in Midwest City.

On June 4, Oklahoma Watch accompanied Parks, her sister Larissa Dudkiewicz, and Theodore’s former wife, Deborah Theodore-Hill, to Cross Timbers to visit Theodore for the first time in six weeks.

When the family indicated a desire to visit Theodore, the nursing home staff responded with hostility.

“You must leave our property immediately,” a staff member who refused to identify herself said. “We’ll call the police.”

“Why?” Dudkiewicz said.

“You know why,” the staff member said.

The family didn’t know why; they refused to leave. Two police cruisers arrived.

After the two-hour drive from Tulsa, the family was compelled to endure a second standoff in the nursing home parking lot, a two-hour delay as police officers examined court documents on smartphones and communicated with staff, APS officials, and Whited from the ombudsman’s office.

A 2015 order from then-Attorney General Scott Pruitt tipped the scale: Title 30 does not provide a guardian with the power to restrict visitation with a nursing home resident without a court order.

APS had not been given a court order to deny visitation.

Despite the clear order from the AG’s office, the beleaguered police officers opted for compromise. Parks, the daughter who knew best how to communicate with Theodore, was denied access. Dudkiewicz and Theodore-Hill were granted a brief, supervised visit.

Theodore was heavily medicated, but he was very excited to see his family, Dudkiewicz said.

“He immediately opened his eyes, especially when he saw my momma,” Dudkiewicz said. “They were dating when she was 16, so he loves to see her.”

Theodore-Hill chuckled. She recounted reading various psalms and Bible passages to Theodore, including Jeremiah 30.

“Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. But I will restore you to health, and heal your wounds,” the verse reads. 

Full Article & Source:
Eldercare Nightmare: A Tragic Family Story Raises the Specter of Widespread Guardianship Fraud 

Report: FBI, Hamblen County police catch international scammer who preyed on the elderly

A man the FBI says had his hand in several million dollar scams around the world is jailed in Hamblen County, Tennessee. Samuel Bobby Campbell, 48, posed as a rep for Publishers Clearing House to bilk thousands from local elderly residents, according to authorities.

Sheriff Chad Mullins said Campbell has been under investigation for a year by his office and the officers with the FBI in Johnson City and the money he stole from elderly residents was more than $1 million.

Campbell would allegedly call the resident claiming they won but needed money for the tax payment on the winnings that the victims gave to Campbell when he came to their homes. Campbell was caught by officers when he arrived at a person’s home to collect $75,000, according to Mullins’ report.  

Full Article & Source:
Report: FBI, Hamblen County police catch international scammer who preyed on the elderly 

4 Pioneering Musicians Placed Under Conservatorship, Including 2 You Might’ve Forgotten About

By Melanie Davis 

Fame and fortune come with their fair share of emotional and mental burdens that can be made even heavier and harder to manage by traumatic life events and health conditions (pre-existing or unexpected), which was the case for these four pioneering musicians who were placed under a conservatorship at some point in their careers. Sometimes, the star was at the height of their fame when they entered the legal appointment. 

Other times, the artist suffered a health scare or traumatic incident later in life that led to a conservatorship. These arrangements involve an individual, the conservator, managing the financial and personal affairs of someone else, the conservatee. These four musicians all became conservatees at some point, sometimes more than once, to varying degrees of public recognition and memory.

Brian Wilson 

The late Beach Boys founder and musical production pioneer Brian Wilson entered a conservatorship just one year before he died due to a “major neurocognitive disorder,” per NPR. The Wilson family placed the musician in the legal arrangement following the death of his wife, Melinda Wilson.

“Brian will be able to enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects as well as participate in any activities he chooses,” the family’s statement on social media read. This was the second attempt by the Wilson family to place the “Good Vibrations” songwriter under a conservatorship, having previously tried in the early 1990s to try and separate Wilson from his controversial psychologist, Eugene Landy.

Britney Spears

Pop star Britney Spears is perhaps the celebrity most synonymous with the concept of conservatorship. Her father, Jamie Spears, and his attorney, Andrew M. Wallet, kick-started the process of placing the “Lucky” singer under a conservatorship in 2008 at a time when Britney and her mental health were prime tabloid fodder.

Britney Spears’ conservatorship was incredibly controversial throughout its decades-long duration, though the degree to which the public seemed interested in the matter varied over the years. A resurgence in interest in the pop star’s case came around the release of the New York Times’ documentary Framing Britney Spears in 2021, prompting a “Free Britney” movement that helped catalyze her release from her conservatorship in 2021.

Randy Meisner

Musicians who enter conservatorships typically do so involuntarily or, at the very least, in a state that would prevent them from wholly making the decision themselves. Eagles founder and bassist Randy Meisner is a notable exception. In 2016, he requested a judge place him under a temporary conservatorship following the accidental death of his wife.

In his petition to the court, the “Take It To the Limit” songwriter said he was “barely able to accept the sudden and tragic loss of his loving wife” and wanted his “trusted friends and advisers [to] assist him.” The Los Angeles Daily News reported that Meisner said, “I just want to get over this. I’m in a lot of pain.”

Joni Mitchell

Pioneering folk musician Joni Mitchell entered a conservatorship after suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015. Longtime friend Leslie Morris became Mitchell’s conservator following her lengthy hospitalization, which granted Morris the ability to oversee Mitchell’s health care, not finances.

Lawyer Rebecca Thyne visited Mitchell after the temporary conservatorship was in place to see if an extension was necessary. “She told me that she receives excellent care from caregivers around the clock,” Thyme told LA.com. “It was clear that she was happy to be home and that she has made remarkable progress. She has physical therapy each day and is expected to make a full recovery.”

And as history would show, Mitchell did indeed. The legendary folk and jazz musician performed for the first time following her aneurysm at the Newport Folk Festival in July 2022. 

Full Article & Source:
4 Pioneering Musicians Placed Under Conservatorship, Including 2 You Might’ve Forgotten About 

AARP Backs Legislation to Protect Older Investors

New bill calls for creation of a task force on financial abuse

By Mythili Sampathkumar 

Older adults lose billions every year to financial exploitation, which often eats into retirement savings and other funds built up over decades of work. One in 10 older adults in the U.S. have experienced illegal or improper use of their funds, property or assets, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. ​​

That’s why AARP is supporting the Senior Security Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill introduced earlier this year that would help combat increasingly sophisticated financial fraud and scams targeting older adults. An earlier version of the bill unanimously passed the House in 2023 but did not become law. ​​

The proposed 2025 legislation would establish a task force at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to identify specific challenges older Americans face as investors and would require it to report to Congress every two years on its activities and recommendations. The bill also calls on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study and report on the actual costs of elder financial exploitation.

The GAO report would spotlight high-tech scams and trends, including robocalls and voice spoofing, that impact older investors and their families. That information could help policymakers and advocates stay ahead of the rapidly changing landscape of financial fraud. ​​

“Criminals steal billions of dollars from consumers every year,” AARP Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Bill Sweeney wrote in a June 5 letter to Reps. Josh Gottheimer (R-N.J.) and Ann Wagner (D-Mo.), who cosponsored the bill. “The effects on victims and their families can be financially and emotionally devastating, especially for older Americans.” ​​

Pinpointing financial abuse ​​

The scope of financial losses among older adults is hard to estimate. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that in 2023, adults 60 and older reported losing nearly $2 billion to fraud. However, underreporting of crimes is common, and the estimated real total losses, according to the FTC, ranged anywhere from $7.1 billion to $61.5 billion. The FTC estimated that these types of crimes cost those who reported their losses nearly $130,000 each. ​​A separate 2023 AARP report, which used three sets of data to study the financial exploitation of older Americans, estimated annual reported and unreported losses to be about $20 billion. Much of that exploitation was at the hands of people the victims knew. This may be why only about $8 billion of those losses are reported to police, according to the methodology developed by AARP and the University of Chicago. ​

Our endorsement of the Senior Security Act is another step AARP has taken to advocate for protecting older Americans and to determine the breadth and impact of scams and fraud. ​

A 2024 survey found that when an older American loses their savings to a scammer, the loss affects more than the victim alone. Not only do 1 in 5 Americans know someone over the age of 50 who has been exploited financially, but the overwhelming majority say the person they are concerned about is a family member or friend. ​

The newly proposed federal legislation complements our work to fight fraud through programs like the AARP Fraud Watch Network, a free resource that can help older Americans prevent and spot potential scams and signs of abuse, and our BankSafe initiative, which teaches bank, credit union and retail employees how to spot and stop potential financial exploitation before any funds are transferred. ​​ 

Full Article & Source:
AARP Backs Legislation to Protect Older Investors

Why Guardianship Reform Is a Civil Rights Imperative

by James A. Lomastro

Nationally, Mother Jones reports, over one million adults are currently under guardianship. This is an invisible civil rights crisis—hidden in plain sight.

Having a guardian affects a person’s fundamental right to live in a community, make decisions about their life, and remain free from unnecessary confinement. While the “Free Britney” movement briefly made “guardianship” and “conservatorship” household words, most people who are affected have far fewer resources to recover their rights than Britney Spears.

For far too long, our society has tolerated a guardianship system that systematically strips civil rights from those who are most vulnerable—the poor, people with disabilities, the unhoused, and those without adequate legal representation.

The time has come, however, for comprehensive reform recognizing guardianship not as a routine administrative process but as a valued and necessary intervention to be used only as a last resort. Fortunately, more effective alternatives exist that prioritize individual autonomy and community integration.

How Guardianship Fails the Most Vulnerable

The current guardianship system is flawed and carries profound human consequences, as well as straining an already overtaxed healthcare system. A new report by the Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute indicates that an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 “unbefriended” or “unrepresented, at-risk” individuals in my home state “face significant risks to their health, safety, and well-being due to decisional incapacity and a lack of financial or social resources.”

In Massachusetts alone, as the new policy institute report details, thousands of medically stable individuals remain trapped in hospitals, nursing homes, and psychiatric institutions not because they require ongoing medical care but because they lack a legal guardian authorized to make decisions about their discharge and future care.

The Bay State’s experience is just one example of the devastating human and financial costs of systemic failure. While guardianship laws are often presented as tools for compassionate interventions, as implemented they frequently result in forced confinement in institutional settings in which patients may lack access to adequate care, housing options, or genuine recovery-oriented services.

Institutional Bias and Its Consequences

However, the root of this crisis lies in the legal system’s overreliance on guardianship to manage complex human needs. Rather than investing in robust community-based supports and social service workers, many jurisdictions default to institutionalization in long-stay residential facilities under the guise of protection and safety.

This approach creates a devastating cycle. Courts often appoint guardians who become risk-averse, are overwhelmed by caseloads, and/or are institutionally aligned with facility-based care providers. Guardians face no legal requirement to prioritize the least-restrictive alternative or to explore supported decision-making models that could preserve individual autonomy. Furthermore, minimal legal accountability or systemic pressure exists to expedite discharges or facilitate meaningful community integration.

These issues arise from four factors: First, deep-seated assumptions equate disability or aging with incompetence. Second, people are often placed under guardianship without adequate legal representation, a full understanding of the proceedings, or a meaningful opportunity to contest the decision. Third, once guardianship is established, ongoing supervision is typically minimal. Finally, perhaps most troubling, is how difficult it becomes to restore rights once guardianship has been imposed. Even when a person’s circumstances change significantly—through improved health, new coping strategies, or enhanced support networks—the legal and practical hurdles to regaining autonomy are high.

Forging a Path Forward That Centers Dignity

Meaningful guardianship reform must begin with a fundamental shift in societal attitudes away from assumptions that equate disability or aging with incompetence. The Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute emphasizes the need for “person-centered” guardianship, characterized by understanding the individual, involving them in decisions, utilizing planning tools, spending meaningful time, adhering to court oversight, and seeking continuous quality-of-life improvement. This shift requires recognizing that autonomy and safety are not mutually exclusive. Rather than defaulting to protective custody, policy should seek to preserve individual agency and dignity.

The extraordinary authority granted to guardians over a person demands equally extraordinary accountability, transparency, and responsiveness, including:

• Regular review of guardianship arrangements with a presumption toward rights restoration
• Clear standards requiring guardians to pursue the least-restrictive alternatives
• Mechanisms for individuals under guardianship to easily challenge or modify their arrangements
• Training for judges, attorneys, and guardians on disability rights and supported decision-making

The establishment of oversight bodies like the Massachusetts Office of Adult Guardianship and Conservatorship Oversight represents progress, but more comprehensive accountability measures are needed.

Investment in Community-Based Alternatives

A crucial component of reform involves significantly expanding investment in community-based supports, especially social service workers, and alternatives to guardianship, such as supported decision-making (SDM), which has been used internationally for decades and is starting to be used more widely in the United States. SDM allows people to retain their legal rights while receiving assistance from trusted individuals they choose. This approach recognizes that many people need help understanding information or considering options, but that they can still make their own decisions when provided with appropriate support.

Legal reforms must ensure that guardianship truly becomes a last resort. Achieving this goal includes beginning with less-restrictive alternatives before guardianship can be imposed, ensuring qualified legal representation for all individuals facing guardianship proceedings, providing regular and accessible pathways for individuals to challenge or terminate guardianship arrangements, and offering clear timelines for guardianship reviews and rights restoration procedures.

Finally, the Guardianship Policy Institute’s research shows that increased state funding to eliminate waitlists and ensure timely access to services for all eligible individuals is not just morally imperative but fiscally responsible. Economic analyses by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute and the American Bar Association in New York support potential annual savings of tens of thousands of dollars per person through effective guardianship programs.

A Nonprofit Role

Nonprofit organizations can also help transform the guardianship system. The success of initiatives like Public Guardian Services in Massachusetts—which operates a privately funded pilot program that offers social-work support for unrepresented individuals—shows the potential for nonprofit innovation in this space.

Nonprofits operating with the disability community could develop and expand guardianship services rooted in person-centered values that demonstrate how transparent and ethical oversight can be provided with a clear commitment to community integration. They are also uniquely positioned to educate service providers, families, legal professionals, and judges about SDM alternatives and help build the infrastructure needed to support the widespread adoption of these approaches.

Nonprofits can also engage in sustained legislative advocacy to reform the foundational assumptions embedded in guardianship law. Perhaps most importantly, they can work to ensure that the people most affected by guardianship are at the center of policy advocacy.

Too often, individuals under guardianship—or who are at risk of it—are excluded from discussions about the policies and practices that shape their lives. Nonprofits can create meaningful opportunities for self-advocates to speak, lead, and codesign solutions. These actions ensure that policy is grounded in lived experience and real-world wisdom rather than abstract discussions.

Toward a Rights-Respecting Future

Guardianship reform is not merely a technical legal issue—it is a fundamental question of how we treat those who are most vulnerable among us.

The current social service and legal system is biased toward institutionalization, which often amounts to the systematic removal of basic civil rights and a profound violation of human dignity. The path forward requires courage to challenge entrenched systems and assumptions. It demands investment in community-based alternatives that many jurisdictions have been reluctant to find. It requires a fundamental commitment to the principle that all people—regardless of disability, age, or circumstance—have the right to live with dignity and independently in their communities.

The policy ideas highlighted here are not merely aspirational but essential steps toward creating a society that truly values autonomy, inclusion, and human rights.

Every day that society fails to adjust guardianship policy, more individuals lose their liberty unnecessarily, more families are separated, and more communities are deprived of their members’ contributions. The Guardianship Policy Institute’s findings show that the current system’s poor outcomes are “unaffordable, both financially and in terms of human well-being,” underscoring the urgency of action.

The time for half-measures and incremental change has passed. Building a model that emphasizes professional, person-centered guardianship; sustainable funding; and comprehensive oversight offers a potential roadmap for transformation. 

Full Article & Source:
Why Guardianship Reform Is a Civil Rights Imperative 

Elder abuse takes many forms; if you see it, report it

By Marie Thomas

Elder abuse comes in many forms. It could be physical abuse, financial abuse, or even self-abuse.

Whatever it is, people who see or suspect it should report it.

June is National Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and Saturday is Flag Day. In recognition of both, the Wood County Department of Job and Family Services, the Wood County Committee on Aging, and the City of Bowling Green partnered to hold a community event Friday.

Our flag represents our nation coming together in unity and with elder abuse, we come together as a county to fight it, said Maureen Veit, who works with adult protective services within Wood County Job and Family Services.

There were 388 investigations into elder abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and/or exploitation in Wood County in 2024, which was an increase from 2023 when there were 315 investigations and in 2022 when there were 310.

This year we are on the same track, Veit said, and explained there were many more cases reported than investigated.

“Our goal is to try to help seniors in Wood County to be able to remain as independent as possible and as safe as possible,” she said.

Veit said after the program that the abuse numbers were low in Wood County, and it was financial exploitation that was growing. Unfortunately, many in that case are scammers and there’s no one to prosecute.

“People don’t realize we also self-neglect. That would be someone living alone and not caring for themselves,” she said. “Maybe they don’t know what’s out there or they don’t have family or supports.”

Veit said people also don’t realize that adult protective services needs to go to Probate Court Judge Dave Woessner to get an elder safe.

Woessner, who was the featured speaker, said an increasingly important part of his jurisdiction is the protection of the elderly.

Elder abuse is defined as an intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult aged 60 years or older, he said.

Elder abuse can include physical or emotional abuse, psychological abuse or financial exploitation, neglect and abandonment, Woessner said.

Perpetrators can include children, other family members, as well as others with access, he said.

He said that the 388 cases investigated in 2024 was a 38% increase from the 281 assessments completed in 2019.

“It is pretty much understood those numbers are certainly underreported just given the nature of what we deal with,” he said.

His court has a lot of tools available to address elder abuse, whether it is ensuring that an individual’s power of attorney is valid, determining whether the individual needs the assistance of a guardian or mental health services, and whether the adult has been a victim of abuse, he said.

Concerns can only be addressed when they are raised and reported, he said, and nothing will replace the observation of family, friends and neighbors who have seen something that may not look or feel right.

Phone calls, stopping by the say hi, offering to get groceries or run an errand are all ways to show we care and to observe, he said.

“Elder abuse is a topic that deserves our attention not just for a day, not just for a month, but for 356 days a year,” Woessner said.

Words like dignity and respect apply to all people regardless of their backgrounds and age, said Mayor Mike Aspacher.

“It saddens me to think in this great nation, we have issues like elder abuse taking place in our communities,” he said.

He thanked those who have come forward to report cases of abuse and alerted those who are able to help.

“I think we can all agree. We’d like to see the number of reports of elder abuse reduced to zero,” Aspacher said. “Not because we are silent or afraid of coming forward but because we’ve done all that we can do to prevent it from happening in the first place.”

Raising awareness among family, friends and neighbors will help reduce acts of disrespect and mistreatment of elderly citizens, he said.

“We are all responsible for building safer communities for our neighbors and reaching out to help senior citizens continue to maintain quality of life by respectfully keeping an eye on them and reporting any signs of abuse or related concerns,” he said.

Commissioner Ted Bowlus said the National Council of Aging estimates 5 million older Americans each year are victims or abuse, neglect or financial exploitation.

Wood County seniors are valued members of our community, connecting us to the past and helping us meet the challenges of today, he said.

Seniors have the right to live their golden years with dignity and respect, he said, and he encouraged all residents to take an active role in the lives of our elders.

If you suspect abuse of an older adult, you can call Wood County’s Adult Protective Services hotline at 419-354-9669 to make a report. The line is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Aspacher also read a proclamation in recognition of Flag Day.

The American flag was adopted on June 14, 1777, and in 1949, that date was designated National Flag Day, Aspacher said.

“Flag Day celebrates our nation’s symbol of unity and stands for our country’s devotion to freedom and the rule of law and equal rights to all,” he said.

State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari shared his experience driving to Buckeye Boys State Thursday with 92-year-old Joe Stockner, who spent 40-plus years as part of Boys State.

He said there is a city named Stockner at Boys State and when he introduced Joe the members of the city went berserk.

“From my perspective, there’s a lot that we can learn from our older generations and there’s a lot they can learn from us,” he said.

He shared how the folded flag is the last piece family members have of their fallen loved ones.

“When we fold that flag and we present that flag, we get down on one knee … (we say) please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service,” he said. 

Full Article & Source:
Elder abuse takes many forms; if you see it, report it 

On Elder Abuse Awareness Day Seniors Told: Be Alert to Scams

SOURCE;  Amber Frost for Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office 

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), June 15, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is reminding the community to stay vigilant against the growing threat of financial exploitation and scams targeting older adults.

“Seniors in our community are being targeted by increasingly deceptive and aggressive schemes,” said Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch. “This isn’t just a national issue, it’s a local one.

“That’s why, in observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we’re urging everyone to stay alert, speak up, and report suspected fraud.”

To help prevent elder financial abuse, the District Attorney’s Office provides educational presentations and outreach to senior centers, faith-based groups, and community organizations.

“We want the community to know that help is available,” said Savrnoch. “If you or someone close to you suspects a scam or is experiencing financial exploitation, report it immediately to local law enforcement or our office.

“No one should face this alone. We’re here to support you.”

As part of the office’s ongoing efforts to keep the public informed, Chief Investigator Kristina Perkins hosts a weekly podcast “Scam Squad,” which educates the community about common and emerging scams and offers practical tips on how to stay protected.

“Scam Squad” airs on Young at Heart on KTMS Newstalk 990 at 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and 9:30 a.m. Sundays; or listeners can access the podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

To report suspected fraud or request resources, call the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s fraud hotline, 805-568-2442. 

Full Article & Source:
On Elder Abuse Awareness Day Seniors Told: Be Alert to Scams 

LETTER: Nevada probate reform a step forward

by Poppy Helgren Henderson

Senate Bill 404 becoming law is certainly a step in the right direction (Thursday Review-Journal). For years outsiders were able to cash in dead people’s homes, not making a dime for the heirs. Unfortunately, these independent administrators were able to sell homes to their inside circle who would flip the houses for a higher price. Now there are new steps in the process to limit just who can have the authority to sell homes though probate court.

I hope that soon the Legislature also takes a careful look at guardianship. Statistics show that approximately 1.5 million adult Americans are under active guardianship. As long ago as 1987, Rep. Claude Pepper, a member of the House Select Committee on Aging, said that Congress had known since 1977 that the country’s guardianship structure was in need of intervention.

The takeaway is that for decades the same guardianship system has been alive and well. Billions of dollars of assets are under the control of guardians. Vulnerable people who have worked hard and saved their money, intending their families to have an inheritance, have had their assets diverted into the pockets of guardians and other players. We should not be surprised that the system, which is legally sanctioned, attracts predators who can charge heavy fees and “fire sale” off real estate and heirlooms.

It is imperative that our states and federal government, which purport to “protect” the vulnerable by guardianship, take a deep dive into what is going on. 

Full Article & Source:
LETTER: Nevada probate reform a step forward 

Bratt Woman Accused Of Elderly Exploitation, Grand Theft, Credit Card Fraud

A Bratt woman is accused of two felonies for allegedly using an elderly man’s debit card over five dozen times without his permission.

Sara Jo Workman, 43, was charged with exploitation of elderly, felony credit card fraud, grand theft, misdemeanor credit card fraud, fraud/impersonation, and larceny of a credit card. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set at $17,500.

Workman allegedly took possession of a debit card belonging to a 77-year-old McDavid man’s account. According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Workman used the card with the name of the victim’s deceased wife 63 times in about a month in 2024 to purchase items, goods and services to totalling $1,960.

The victim told deputies that Workman had stayed in their home and worked for the couple.

The victim was alerted by his bank of suspicious charges and also noticed a $50 transaction to Escambia River Electric Cooperative. With the assistance of his bank, the victim determined that the payment was for electric service at Workman’s home on Ashcraft Road in Bratt.

Deputies were at first unable to locate Workman but were unable to interview her with the assistance of the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office when she had an unrelated court appearance in Brewton.

Investigators noted in their report that information was provided to other jurisdictions in reference to possible charged for use of the card outside of Escambia County, Florida.

Full Article & Source:
Bratt Woman Accused Of Elderly Exploitation, Grand Theft, Credit Card Fraud