Maine bar suspends attorney who oversaw trust funds for clients in guardianships

Elizabeth LaPierre was suspended by an emergency order on Aug. 24. She has been ordered to turn over clients’ files to 2 court-appointed receivers.  

by Emily Allen 

A Portland attorney who represented court-appointed clients in guardianship cases has been suspended from practicing after the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar alleged she was negligent with clients’ trust and estate funds, some of which were meant to help pay for the assisted-living costs of vulnerable adults in guardianships.

Elizabeth LaPierre was the subject of at least three grievance complaints filed by two former clients and a colleague before Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy signed an immediate interim order suspending her on Aug. 24. 

In one case, the petition alleges, a brother risked losing his status as guardian for his sister because LaPierre failed to meet deadlines for filing guardian reports with the probate court. A woman in another case reportedly feared that a deceased relative’s estate, which her children were set to inherit, would be foreclosed upon “due to the failure of LaPierre to act and probate the estate,” according to the petition. LaPierre was the relative’s designated personal representative.

LaPierre did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday via text and an email to her employer. Her voicemail box was full.

Until March, LaPierre worked for a firm in Falmouth, handling trust and estates law. The petition says she served in several court-appointed roles, including conservator, personal representative, trustee and power of attorney. In estate cases, she was responsible for filing important court records after a person died. In guardianship matters, she was in charge of using clients’ trusts to pay for living expenses.

The petition stated that LaPierre was responsible for filing important reports with the probate court on behalf of family members of people in guardianships. 

LaPierre now works for Maine Equal Justice as a senior staff attorney, the organization confirmed on Wednesday. None of the allegations in the bar’s petition deals with LaPierre’s work for the nonprofit, which offers civil legal aid services and advocates for economic justice policies. A spokesperson said LaPierre is not doing legal work for the organization during her suspension.

The bar alleged that LaPierre’s clients began struggling to reach her in 2025. A former colleague later told the bar’s attorneys that it was around that time that LaPierre was struggling with her health. According to the petition, the colleague, who parted ways with LaPierre earlier this year and later filed a mandated report to the bar against her, said LaPierre insisted on taking more than a dozen court-appointed clients with her. LaPierre also reportedly retained those clients’ personal belongings, including heirlooms. 

By May 2026, when a man serving as guardian for his sister filed the first grievance against LaPierre, she had not responded to multiple requests regarding the sister’s expenses and her trust, the petition alleges. The bar identified seven other examples in which clients and their new attorneys could not reach LaPierre about their cases. In the case of one client, a service provider that was unable to reach LaPierre about outstanding payments called police, who called Adult Protective Services. 

LaPierre did not respond to multiple calls, voicemails and letters the bar sent regarding these complaints, according to the petition. 

“The board believes LaPierre has demonstrated a pattern of misconduct including, but not limited to, severe negligence in handling vulnerable clients’ funds and potentially misuse of trust and estate funds,” attorneys Lisa Chase and Suzanne Thompson wrote in the petition. 

From May 25 to July 29, LaPierre was under administrative suspension for failing to complete ongoing education requirements for the bar, according to what the petition states was publicly available information on the bar’s website. The bar said its staff reached out to LaPierre’s current employer, who reportedly said the organization was unaware LaPierre was not allowed to practice.  

After bar staff reached the employer’s executive director, LaPierre called the bar and said on July 28 that she would respond to the grievances, according to the petition. Almost a month later, the bar’s attorneys said they still hadn’t received that response.

LaPierre completed her education requirements, however, and was reinstated July 29, according to the petition. 

Murphy, the Superior Court justice who signed an immediate order suspending LaPierre on Aug. 24, also appointed two attorneys to serve as receivers for LaPierre’s former clients while she is prohibited from working as an attorney.

Attorneys Kylie Germann and Jessica Braun will have access to LaPierre’s professional files, her clients’ trust information and any computer software or devices that were used for business and fiduciary purposes, according to a second order Murphy signed. The order makes an exception for files involved in LaPierre’s current work at Maine Equal Justice. The attorneys will help clients who need to find new lawyers, Murphy wrote, and will notify clients who still have personal belongings to retrieve from LaPierre.

Aria Eee, executive director for the Board of Overseers of the Bar, said she was unable to comment when reached Thursday because the case is still being investigated. She said anyone who is concerned about an attorney’s professional conduct should notify the board through the grievance complaint process, and that people concerned about attorney theft should consult information online about the Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection. 

Editor’s note: Suzanne Thompson is married to a Portland Press Herald employee. 

Full Article & Source:
Maine bar suspends attorney who oversaw trust funds for clients in guardianships 

She went to check on her elderly dad — he was gone and his caretaker had moved in. How this could happen to you

 by Vawn Himmelsbach

Imagine hiring a caretaker for your ailing father, only to find out your father passed away and the caretaker had moved into his home, leaving no trace of him behind.

While it sounds like the plot to a movie, it’s what actually happened to Nora Rowland, who told Inside Edition that she drove from Baltimore to South Carolina to do a wellness check after not hearing from her father for several weeks.

Her 75-year-old father, Robert, had Parkinson’s and a brain injury.

When Nora arrived, however, her key didn’t work. The doorbell had been replaced by a Ring doorbell camera. When she rang the doorbell, the voice who answered said her dad had passed away three days earlier.

So Nora climbed through an open window to investigate. Her father was gone, but so were all traces of him. A new family had moved in; the walls were painted orange, and the family photos had been replaced by photos of strangers.

But it gets worse: The woman now living there accused Nora of breaking into her house and called the cops. And it was Nora who ended up in custody for three days for alleged trespassing (the charges were later dropped).

The woman, it turns out, is Sarah Smalls, a nurse that Nora had hired three months prior to care for her ailing father.

“I hired her to care for him, not to steal from him,” she told Inside Edition.

Less than a month after Smalls was hired, Nora’s father was moved into a senior living facility. Then, Smalls was named as his power of attorney and the deed to his house was transferred to her for just $5. Bank statements also show money transfers from Nora’s father’s accounts to Smalls, before and after he died.

Now the onus is on Nora to file a civil lawsuit to try to get her father’s assets back.

What is elder financial abuse?

Elder fraud, elder financial abuse and elder financial exploitation (EFE) refer to the abuse of financial control or misappropriation of funds in a relationship with an elderly victim.

This can take several forms. It could be someone the victim knows, like a grandchild ‘borrowing’ money that’s never repaid. Or it could be criminals running an investment fraud scheme.

It could involve tricking, coercing or persuading a vulnerable senior into signing over Power of Attorney, in which the fraudster gains control of the senior’s finances, or signing over a property deed or vehicle title.

While Nora’s case is extreme, it’s not an anomaly. An AARP study found that victims of EFE over the age of 60 lose $28.3 billion in the U.S. each year. And in most (72%) of those cases, fraud is committed by someone the victim knows.

But EFE is “notoriously underreported,” according to Comparitech. Not all victims report EFE, especially if it’s committed by a family member. Maybe they’re ashamed or embarrassed, or maybe they simply aren’t aware it’s happening.

Social isolation and mental impairment — such as Alzheimer’s or dementia — can make an older adult more vulnerable to abuse, according to the National Council on Aging.

And while there are some protections in place — about half of states have “hold” laws in which banks can hold transactions if they suspect financial exploitation — there’s still much that needs to be done.

In the meantime, victims don’t have a lot of recourse.

“Getting restitution is nearly impossible, and re-earning that money takes time, when time is not on an older victim’s side,” according to the AARP report. “Victims often lose not only key resources that can jeopardize their current and future financial security but also a degree of their own dignity.”

How to protect your loved ones

Perhaps one of the most nefarious forms of elder financial abuse is when the victim is tricked into signing over Power of Attorney or property titles — even changing their will — essentially draining them of their assets and autonomy.

Ideally, you want to put protections in place while a loved one is still mentally capable of making decisions. A good starting point is to contact an elder law attorney, who can help set up a durable financial Power of Attorney or trust.

For example, with a durable financial Power of Attorney, Nora could have served as her father’s ‘agent’ to make financial decisions on his behalf, if he was unable to make those decisions for himself.

When hiring a caretaker or home nurse, use a licensed, bonded home care agency, and check their credentials and references thoroughly. Have the caregiver sign a formal contract (with your elder law attorney present) and ensure their access to your loved one’s finances is limited.

For example, rather than giving them access to the elder’s bank accounts, provide them with a prepaid debit card for groceries or other items. You can also arrange for ‘view only’ access to their bank accounts to monitor them for suspicious activity, such as unexplained bank withdrawals or transfers.

If you suspect fraud or theft, contact the police as well as your local Adult Protective Services agency. If your loved one is in a nursing home, call your Long-Term Care Ombudsman to intervene and advocate on your behalf.

In more extreme cases — say, a property deed was transferred or a will was changed while the elder was not of sound mind — that’s considered a form of elder financial abuse. In those cases, hire an elder law attorney. 

Full Article & Source:
She went to check on her elderly dad — he was gone and his caretaker had moved in. How this could happen to you 

Law students partner with Charleston Co. Probate Court to protect vulnerable adults

The Adult Guardianship Assistance and Monitoring Program in the Lowcountry is pairing Charleston School of Law students with the Charleston County Probate Court to check on vulnerable and incapacitated adults under guardianship.

By Kavya Ramesh

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — The Adult Guardianship Assistance and Monitoring Program in the Lowcountry is pairing Charleston School of Law students with the Charleston County Probate Court to check on vulnerable and incapacitated adults under guardianship.

Students volunteer as court-appointed limited court visitors, going out in teams of two to visit adults under guardianship in homes and care facilities.

The court conducts specialized training each semester before issuing court orders appointing the students to the role.

Students act as ‘eyes and ears’ of the court

During a training session, Charleston County Probate Judge Irv Condon told students that guardianship in South Carolina applies to more than senior citizens. 

“It’s not all about senior citizens. It’s about incapacitated adults. And a vulnerable adult in South Carolina is anybody over the age of 18. So that could be, uh, any, any of us,” Condon said.

Condon said the goal of the visits is to secure the greatest independence possible for each person under guardianship.

“Our hope is you go there and you start visiting and you have a hard time getting away. They want to hear about you and take an interest in you. That is what we hope occurs,” Condon said.

Students monitor housing safety and basic needs, including glasses, walkers and hearing aids, and report their findings to the court. 

Three guardianship clerks follow up on the reports with guardians or conservators.

Coordinators describe the mission

Jamie Roper, elder advocate and coordinator with the City of Charleston Mayor’s Office on Aging, spoke to students about the responsibility of the role.

“This job is more giving back than you will ever know. But I will tell you this. Sometimes the job becomes very, very hard,” Roper said.

Roper told students to trust their instincts during visits.

“When your Spidey senses go up, listen to them because that’s why we need your eyes and ears. Because some people, they don’t have the ability to speak, so we have to speak for them,” Roper said.

Roper said the work is centered on helping people, not creating obstacles for them.

“You know, these are people’s lives and our job is to help them. Not to be a barrier, not to make it difficult, but to help them. So do whatever you can to help them,” Roper said.

Program history

The program began in 2011, with Charleston as one of two counties in the nation chosen to pilot it, along with Maricopa County, Arizona. 

Condon told students the effort followed news reports by the Los Angeles Times and New York Times documenting courts that were not checking on individuals under guardianship.

Since 2011, more than 1,200 students have participated in the program, visiting more than 1,000 citizens, according to the court.

The court says about 200 of the visits have resulted in direct follow-up actions, including connecting families with caregiver grants, securing housing resources or reporting abuse and neglect. 

Full Article & Source:
Law students partner with Charleston Co. Probate Court to protect vulnerable adults 

Charleston County Probate Court hosts Adult Guardianship Assistance, Monitoring Program

by: Danika Young

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The Charleston County Probate Court is partnering with the Charleston School of Law for an Adult Guardianship Assistance and Monitoring Program training.

The training will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Charleston School of Law.

The training allows students to perform assistance and wellness checks by visiting vulnerable adults under guardianship.

“The goal of this program is to ensure seniors and incapacitated adults are receiving proper care. Each semester, Charleston County Probate Court hosts specialized training sessions at the law school to properly train the students to participate in this program,” the Charleston County Probate Court said.

During these visits, the court says students will ask questions about the present living and care arrangements to report back to the court and will follow up on any necessary action required
after the visits. 

Full Article & Source:
Charleston County Probate Court hosts Adult Guardianship Assistance, Monitoring Program 

Cher Seeks to Delay Conservatorship Hearing Pending Guardianship Effort

by Contributing Editor 

Cher is opposing any oversight of her son’s mental health by her daughter-in-law and is asking a judge to delay proceedings in California pending the outcome of guardianship proceedings in New Hampshire.

Cher’s attorneys filed court papers Friday with Judge Jessica Uzcategui stating that she may drop her bid for a conservatorship in California if the New Hampshire guardianship efforts regarding 50-year-old Elijah Blue Allman turn out to her satisfaction.

After Allman’s arrest earlier this year in New Hampshire, Marieangela King Allman filed for divorce because at that time she was “emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, and believed separation was necessary,” King Allman says in her court papers

However, since filing for dissolution, Elijah Blue’s placement through the New Hampshire court system into structured treatment environment and her continued concern for his well-being caused her to reconsider ending the marriage and drop the idea, according to King Allman.

King Allman is acting as her own attorney. She contends in her Los Angeles Superior Court papers that Cher and her husband’s other “estranged relatives” have “repeatedly attempted to impose a conservatorship or similar restraints” on Allman without her knowledge. She is offering herself as his conservator.

But Cher’s attorneys state in their court papers that King Allman has an ulterior motive.

“Now that a conservatorship is pending, Mrs. King-Allman clearly sees a financial opportunity to control his income and she has attempted to seize the opportunity created by his incarceration to try to reinsert herself back into his life,” according to Cher’s lawyers’ court papers. 

Whether Allman ultimately chooses to be in a relationship with King-Allman is his choice, but given her behavior and indifference to his health and living situation over the prior year, she, in no way, should ever be considered as a viable candidate to serve as a court-appointed fiduciary, Cher’s attorneys further contend in their court papers. 

Former Allman girlfriend Kayti Pease repeatedly requested that King Allman assist her in providing care for Allman, but King Allman “never lifted a finger to help, despite the fact that Mr. Allman was supposedly her spouse,” according to Cher’s attorneys’ filing.

Allman’s siblings, Devon Allman and Chaz Bono, have sought appointment as Allman’s guardians in a New Hampshire court, both Cher and King Allman have noted in their court papers.

If Cher determines the New Hampshire guardianship is permanent and protective enough, then she will file a notice to dismiss the California conservatorship action, her attorneys state in their court papers.

King Allman says Elijah Blue “vehemently opposed” appointment of Cher as his conservator when she sought the role in April only to be denied by a judge.

“I am extremely concerned that appointment of conservator hand selected by (Cher) is equally not in Elijah’s best interests and will be viewed by Elijah as further punishment and an effort to interfere with his autonomy, rather than an attempt to help him,” King Allman says, adding that an alternative solution would be to appoint her as her husband’s conservatory.

King Allman says she and her husband have “experienced challenges within our marriage, many of which were related to his struggles with substance abuse, mental health issues and the consequences that followed.”

The next hearing in the conservatorship proceedings is Tuesday unless the judge grants Cher’s request for a 120-day postponement. Allman is the 80-year-old Cher’s only son with the late Allman Brothers singer Gregg Allman.

Full Article & Source:
Cher Seeks to Delay Conservatorship Hearing Pending Guardianship Effort 

See Also:
Cher’s Son Elijah Blue’s Wife Challenges Singer’s Conservatorship, Asks Court to Put Her In Charge (Exclusive)

 

Alva police officer and wife arrested for exploiting elderly man

Source:
Alva police officer and wife arrested for exploiting elderly man 

Supported Decision-Making Facilitation Model Shortlisted for International Innovation Award!

 

August 26, 2026

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I have some exciting news! The Supported Decision-Making facilitation model has been shortlisted for the Zero Project Awards 2027!  If you are not familiar with Zero Project, it is a global initiative to identify and share innovative solutions that remove barriers for people with disabilities. This year, Zero Project’s call for submissions focused on the topics of Independent Living, Political Participation, and Assistive Technology (AT). After receiving more than 615 nominations from around the world, Zero Project's research team and experts from the global Zero Project Network selected their “shortlist” of 159 solutions.

Supported-Decision Making’s inclusion on this list represents an incredible milestone in OPWDD’s effort to empower people with developmental disabilities to experience the dignity and independence of decision-making with support. It demonstrates that the Project's experts recognize that New York’s Supported Decision-Making facilitation model, which provides a legally enforceable way for people with developmental disabilities to demonstrate their capacity to make legal, financial, medical, and life decisions on their own behalf, is an innovative solution worthy of potential replication.

While this shortlist is only the first step of the award process, I can't tell you how proud it makes me to see Supported Decision-Making on this list. It’s inclusion in this global competition is a testament to the important work we’ve been doing here in New York State under the leadership of Governor Hochul and in partnership with our provider agencies and advocates.  While several other states and countries have laws that recognize decisions made under Supported Decision-Making Agreements, New York is the only state in the nation that supports and funds the facilitation process for people with developmental disabilities.  

While the scope of OPWDD services may be limited to New York, the reach of our work, led by our community that includes our partners and self-advocates, knows no borders.  Freedom from all kinds of barriers is so essential to living a rich, fulfilling life. Because we live in a global environment, it is so important that we continue to work with, learn from, and collaborate with our neighbors across the globe to achieve zero barriers for people with developmental disabilities.

For more information on Support Decision Making in NY, available through AIM Services, Inc, please visit their website.

The final Zero Project Awards will be announced on December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Stay tuned!

Sincerely,

Willow Baer 
Commissioner

Source:
Supported Decision-Making Facilitation Model Shortlisted for International Innovation Award! 

Bay Minette cleaning lady booked on felony elderly exploitation in $400k theft probe

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (NBC 15) — A Bay Minette woman is accused of stealing nearly $400,000 in cash from a private residence over several months while working as a cleaning lady, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said it received a report on Tuesday about the theft of a large amount of U.S. currency from a home. The victims told investigators that nearly $400,000 in cash had been taken and identified their cleaning lady as the primary suspect.

Investigators identified the suspect as Tabitha White, 28, of Bay Minette, and interviewed her about the theft, the sheriff’s office said. During the interview, White told investigators that over the course of several months, she had taken “handfuls” of cash while cleaning the residence.

As the investigation continued, investigators said they learned White had allegedly used stolen funds to purchase numerous items. That information led to a search warrant being executed at her residence, where investigators seized documents related to the purchases and items believed to have been bought with the stolen money.

The sheriff’s office said evidence seized included vehicles, four-wheelers, electronics, lawn equipment, construction supplies and other property.

White was charged with one felony count of financial exploitation of the elderly. The sheriff’s office said additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues. 

Full Article & Source:
Bay Minette cleaning lady booked on felony elderly exploitation in $400k theft probe 

83-year-old at center of two-state guardianship battle can stay in Colorado — and may not have to return to Dallas

A judge declined to hold Peggy Hill’s son and daughter-in-law in contempt but found they had significantly interfered with her guardianship. 

Author: Tanya Eiserer 

DALLAS — Peggy Hill will get to stay in Colorado — at least until further notice.

A Dallas County probate judge issued an order Wednesday allowing the 83-year-old retired real estate agent to remain in Colorado to undergo brain surgery next month and recuperate there afterward. Hill, who has dementia, is under a court-ordered guardianship. She repeatedly refused court orders to return to Dallas from Fort Collins, Co., where she has been living with her youngest son, Rucker Hill, his wife, Rebecca, and their three young sons.

Under a court-approved settlement among Peggy Hill’s four adult children, she was to spend six months of the year in Colorado and the other six months at a Dallas assisted living facility. Peggy has been in Colorado since October and repeatedly refused efforts to return her to Dallas.

WFAA aired a story Monday night detailing Peggy’s fight to remain in Colorado. "I get up in the morning and think I've already died and gone to heaven living here," Hill said in that interview. She also said that the only way she would return to Dallas was in a “pine box.” On Tuesday, WFAA filed this report on the hearing to determine next steps in Peggy's case.

In a series of rulings following that hearing, Judge Julia Malveaux stayed enforcement of her prior orders that would have required Hill to return to Dallas.

“Ms. Hill is pleased with the Judge’s ruling and appreciates her careful consideration of all the evidence and Ms. Hill’s expressed preferences in accordance with the Ward’s Bill of Rights,” Brian Hill, an attorney representing Peggy Hill wrote in a statement. “Ms. Hill looks forward to remaining in Colorado for the foreseeable future.”

A second order indicates Peggy Hill may ultimately be allowed to stay in Colorado permanently. The judge wrote that pending additional orders from the court regarding transfer of the guardianship to Colorado and acceptance by a Colorado court, Hill “shall be authorized to remain in Colorado.”

The orders came a day after Rucker and Rebecca Hill were forced to testify about whether they had violated the court’s order to get Peggy back to Dallas. The hearing stretched for more than three hours, and the couple faced the possibility of being held in contempt of court.

“The actions of the Colorado family members do not rise to the level of contempt,” Probate Judge Julia Malveau wrote in the order.

But the judge also concluded Rucker and Rebecca Hill had engaged in “significant interference” with the guardianship, including disclosing Peggy’s private health and personal information.

The judge found that the Colorado family members:

• Failed to cooperate fully with the guardian and guardian ad litem.
• Failed to provide care managers reasonable access to Peggy.
• Enabled Peggy’s living situation to become public even though, according to the court, she lacked the legal capacity to consent.
• “Likely” failed to follow instructions from Peggy’s medical providers.

The order requires the Colorado family members to get advance written approval from Peggy’s attorney ad litem (which is akin to a defense attorney and is appointed by the court to represent what the person under guardianship wants), guardian ad litem (who is court-appointed and is supposed to represent what’s in the best interest of the person under guardianship) and guardian before providing any of her health, financial or personal information to a news, internet or other media outlet.

“They shall not engage in any act or omission that might reasonable be interpreted as interference with Ward’s guardianship, protection and safety,” the judge wrote.

The judge also ordered that Peggy receive examinations and treatments recommended by her medical providers. The order prohibits the family from interfering with the guardian’s access to medical providers or Peggy’s medical and health information.

Rebecca and Rucker Hill have previously said they did everything they could to get Peggy to return. They also denied in court testimony interfering with her care.

The judge’s order applies to all family members, not just Rucker and Rebecca Hill.

Brian Hill, the attorney representing Peggy, also has asked the court to direct the bank managing Peggy’s finances to end lease at an assisted living facility, which has been costing her estate $6,000 a month. The motion asks that her “personal effects” be sent to her in Colorado.

In a separate motion, he asked that the court approve transferring her guardianship to Colorado. 

Full Article & Source:
83-year-old at center of two-state guardianship battle can stay in Colorado — and may not have to return to Dallas

‘Menace II Society’ Star Samuel Monroe Jr.’s Wife Fights Mother’s Conservatorship Bid

As the actor remains hospitalized, Shawna Stewart says he chose her to manage his affairs — and accuses his mother of seeking control of his finances.

By Bernadette Giacomazzo

Key Takeaways

• Samuel Monroe Jr.’s wife, Shawna Stewart, is fighting his mother Joyce Patton’s conservatorship bid, saying the actor wanted her to manage his medical and financial decisions.
• Stewart denies misusing GoFundMe donations or Monroe Jr.’s film residuals and accuses Patton of seeking control of his finances, while Patton questions whether the couple is legally married.
• The Menace II Society actor remains hospitalized after meningitis spread to his spine and brain, leading to MRSA pneumonia, seizures, brain swelling, life support, dialysis and multiple brain surgeries.

Samuel Monroe Jr.’s months-long medical crisis has now spilled into court, with the Menace II Society actor’s mother seeking a conservatorship while his wife pushes back against the effort.

According to TMZ, Monroe Jr.’s mother, Joyce Patton, has petitioned to establish a conservatorship over her son as he remains hospitalized and unable to manage his own affairs. His wife, Shawna Stewart, is challenging the move and says Monroe Jr. had previously made it clear that he wanted her — not his mother — to handle his medical and financial decisions.

Stewart also accused Patton of being motivated by money rather than Monroe Jr.’s care. Patton’s court filing reportedly raises questions about a GoFundMe Stewart established to help cover medical expenses and whether Stewart has access to Monroe Jr.’s film residuals.

Stewart denied taking any of his money and told TMZ she believes the conservatorship effort is instead aimed at gaining control over his finances.

The dispute also extends to the status of Stewart and Monroe Jr.’s relationship. Patton has questioned whether the couple is legally married and claimed they have not lived together in approximately 15 years. Stewart disputed that account, saying she and Monroe Jr. have two children together, have maintained an on-and-off relationship in recent years, and lived together during portions of that time.

Asked about proof of their marriage, Stewart declined to provide documentation to TMZ but said Patton “is in for a surprise.”

The case has already moved deeper into the probate process. According to court documents cited by TMZ, an attorney has been appointed to represent Monroe Jr.’s interests, while his medical records have been ordered released to a probate investigator.

A conservatorship could give a court-appointed person authority over some or all of his personal, medical, or financial affairs if a judge determines he cannot make those decisions himself.

The legal fight comes as Monroe Jr. continues to battle severe health complications that began months ago. The actor was hospitalized in April after a prolonged case of meningitis that Stewart previously said had gone undiagnosed for months. She said the infection eventually spread to his spine and brain.

He later developed MRSA pneumonia and required life support, dialysis, multiple blood transfusions, and several brain surgeries.

His condition has fluctuated sharply during the hospitalization. At one point, Monroe Jr.’s kidneys improved enough for doctors to stop dialysis, and he was able to breathe without a ventilator for several hours.

By August, however, Stewart said he was again in a medically induced coma, suffering seizures and brain swelling, with doctors warning that he could remain in a vegetative state.

Monroe Jr., whose credits also include Set It Off, Tales from the Hood and The Players Club, remains hospitalized. 

Full Article & Source:
‘Menace II Society’ Star Samuel Monroe Jr.’s Wife Fights Mother’s Conservatorship Bid 

Update: 

Quick Facts about Samuel Monroe Jr.

• Born: November 28, 1973, in Los Angeles, CA

• Died: August 26, 2026, in Burbank, CA

 

Wendy Williams Reportedly Pleads for Freedom Amid Ongoing Legal Battle in Her First Public Appearance in 6 Months

The former talk show host was spotted grabbing lunch in N.Y.C.

by Chanel Vargas

Wendy Williams attends an event on the Atlanta Tech Village rooftop in Atlanta, Georgia on August 29, 2017.
Credit: Getty Images

The Gist

• Wendy Williams was spotted grabbing lunch in New York City, marking her first public appearance since February.

• The former talk show host allegedly made a plea for help amid her ongoing guardianship battle and health concerns. "I want out!" Williams reportedly said about the guardianship.

• Williams's care team shared that she was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in February 2024.

Wendy Williams, 62, was seen grabbing lunch at a New York City restaurant on August 20, marking her first public appearance in six months, per The Daily Mail.

When asked what she wants the public to know about her ongoing health challenges and legal battle, the former talk show host, 62, allegedly proclaimed, "I want out!"

The sighting comes five years after Williams stepped down as the host of her eponymous daytime talk show due to mounting health challenges. At the time, Williams cited her struggles with Graves' disease—an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid—hyperthyroidism, and lymphedema as the basis for her departure.

Wendy Williams walks through a crowd in New York City on September 16, 2025.
Credit: Getty Images

In February 2022, Williams's care team announced that she had also been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). According to the statement, the conditions have "presented significant hurdles in Wendy's life," impacting her cognitive functions and her ability to communicate. "Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy's ability to process information, and many have speculated about Wendy's condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions."

The statement continued, "The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances."

Bach Mai and Wendy Williams attend the Bach Mai Fashion Show during at New York Fashion Week on September 14, 2025.
Credit: Getty Images

Shortly after sharing her diagnoses, Wells Fargo froze Williams's bank accounts and petitioned for a financial guardianship, claiming she was the "victim of undue influence and financial exploitation," per The Hollywood Reporter. Following a high-pressure legal battle, Williams entered a court-appointed financial and medical guardianship. Since 2023, she has been living in an assisted living and memory care facility in New York City, which she has previously referred to as a "luxury prison" in a January 2025 interview on The Breakfast Club.

In July 2025, Williams celebrated her 61st birthday, allegedly claiming that her birthday wish was to be freed from her guardianship. "[My wish is] obvious: to get out of my guardianship, and go back to work in the most magnificent way," she reportedly told Page Six.

Williams's legal team continues to navigate evaluations of her cognitive abilities and legal capacities in an effort to dissolve the guardianship.

Wendy Williams sits for an interview on "Late Night With Seth Meyers" on June 15, 2021.
Credit: Getty Images

Before her brief public appearance on Thursday, Williams was last seen attending her father's funeral in Miami on February 16, per the Miami Herald. In September, the former broadcaster also attended New York Fashion Week, appearing at the Bach Mai and LaQuan Smith Spring/Summer 2026 shows.

Read the original article on InStyle

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams Reportedly Pleads for Freedom Amid Ongoing Legal Battle in Her First Public Appearance in 6 Months  

See Also:
Why the Wendy Williams Lifetime lawsuit ended the way it did 

Deputies respond to altercation between guardian and elderly client

83-year-old client falls under disputed circumstances 

By Algernon D’Ammassa

LAS CRUCES — A physical altercation between an 83-year-old Fairacres resident and his court-appointed guardian in July reportedly culminated in bruises, a fall and a visit from Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office deputies.  

“Charges have not been filed yet and are pending for now until further investigation,” the report states.

Milan “Mick” Vaskov, a retired businessman whose best-known property was the former Celebrate chain of liquor stores in Las Cruces, lives in his home with his wife and round-the-clock caregivers under the supervision of the Albuquerque-based Decades Group, an elder care and guardianship corporation.

Decades, founded in 2001, was appointed as Vaskov’s guardian and conservator by court order in 2025. The case has been contentious, as Vaskov and his wife have sought to challenge restrictions on his living circumstances and assert his preferences in court. The court proceedings are not public. 

On July 2, deputies responded to a 911 call at Vaskov’s residence reporting a domestic disturbance at about 9:30 a.m.

A police report citing witnesses at the home states that a Decades staff member — listed on the company’s’ website as a care manager and national certified guardian — pushed Vaskov, but accounts of what led to the contact vary.

The account presented by the police report states that Vaskov placed his hands on the guardian’s shoulders during an argument. Vaskov then fell to the floor. The guardian reportedly left the scene before deputies arrived.

The report said Vaskov was asking the guardian about the location of his deceased first wife’s ashes, which had recently been removed from his home without his consent. 

The deputy reported that Vaskov declined medical attention and did not wish to press charges “due to ongoing family and legal matters.” The deputies also found no probable cause that a crime had been committed. However, a supplemental report states that Vaskov visited a hospital for an examination and contacted deputies to say he wished to press charges. 

Crystal Sanchez, a caregiver who is not employed by Decades, witnessed the incident and requested a follow-up interview with law enforcement hours later, according to the report. She stated that Vaskov “was taken to urgent care” for evaluation. Photographs reviewed by the Journal appear to show bruising and scraping along one hand and on one arm around the elbow. 

In a follow-up interview the next day, also described in the report, the guardian reportedly told deputies he was trying to “create distance between them” when Vaskov “lost his balance and fell to the floor while still holding onto him.”

“I didn’t fall down. I got pushed down,” Vaskov said in an interview. He said he sustained scratches and bruises on both arms and remained “a little bit” sore three weeks later. “I walk a little slower and I had to put my shirts on differently. … I got bruised up pretty hard.” 

In an interview for the Journal, Sanchez, a caregiver with a private health care firm, provided an account that differed from the initial police report. She said the report did not reflect the narrative she provided and that she came forward because of her legal mandate to report suspicions of abuse or neglect of vulnerable people.

She said Vaskov was agitated over the missing ashes and asked the guardian to leave.

“Instead of de-escalating the situation, (the guardian) kind of egged it on a little more by stating that he didn't want to leave and that he had to deal with it,” she said. The antagonism escalated, she said, alleging the guardian grabbed Vaskov “forcefully” as he approached a table, “walking him backwards, making my client fall onto the floor, onto the carpet, dropping the lamp, shade and everything,” as she ran across the room to assist her client.

The Journal reached out to Decades Group via email and telephone, as well as the guardian directly, but got no response.  

The guardian reportedly has not returned to the home since the incident.

According to the Vaskovs, Adult Protective Services conducted an interview about the events of July 2.

Additionally, they said that Mick Vaskov was found by a state district judge to be totally incapacitated at an Aug. 15 hearing where Decades was appointed plenary guardian and conservatory, with complete legal authority to make medical, financial and personal decisions on his behalf. 

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Deputies respond to altercation between guardian and elderly client 

Cordova Woman Convicted in Federal Court of Stealing Over $120K from her Grandmother

by Sophia Peters 

CORDOVA, Md. – A federal jury has convicted a Cordova woman in connection with financially abusing her position as the co-guardian and co-conservator of her 81-year-old grandmother.

On Thursday, following a three-day jury trial, 62-year-old Linda Laird was found guilty of conspiracy to commit Social Security fraud and theft of public money; conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud; financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and elderly person; and first degree fraud against a senior citizen. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said the jury delivered the verdict after deliberating for approximately four hours.

According to court documents, in Nov. 2017, Laird, and her late parents, James and Joyce Blizzard, were appointed by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as co-guardians and co-conservators of Laird’s grandmother, who was a vulnerable adult. At the time, Laird’s grandmother was 81-years-old and suffered from severe cognitive impairments. After Joyce Blizzard passed away in Jun. 2018, Laird and James Blizzard continued as co-guardians and co-conservators.

While Laird’s grandmother resided in the nursing home, Laird and Blizzard were required to act as fiduciaries and apply her money towards her support, care, and treatment. Instead, Laird and Blizzard used their authority as co-guardians and co-conservators to redirect the elderly victim’s U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits to their personal bank accounts for their own benefit. In total, Laird and Blizzard stole more than $21,000 in Social Security benefits and obtained over $100,000 from the vulnerable adult’s bank accounts for their personal use. Laird reportedly spent these funds on jewelry, designer shoes, and expensive football tickets.

Both Laird and Blizzard were indicted in Apr. 2024 by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Blizzard died on Feb. 22 of this year before facing prosecution.

Laird’s sentencing is set for Dec. 17. 

Full Article & Source:
Cordova Woman Convicted in Federal Court of Stealing Over $120K from her Grandmother 

An alternative to guardianship? Ohio bill promises more independence for adults with disabilities. Critics see risks

By Karan Singh

COLUMBUS, Ohio — For Ohio adults with developmental disabilities who need help navigating major decisions, the legal options can present a stark choice: retain full control or, if a court finds them legally incompetent, have a guardian appointed with authority to make certain decisions for them.

A bill moving through the Ohio legislature seeks to establish a middle ground.

Senate Bill 35 would formally recognize “supported decision-making,” allowing an adult with a developmental disability to choose trusted people to help understand information, weigh options and communicate decisions — without surrendering the ultimate authority to make those decisions.

Unlike a guardian, who is appointed through probate court after a finding of legal incompetence, a supporter would not take over the person’s decision-making power. The adult could decide what help the supporter may provide, continue acting independently and end the arrangement at any time.

Supporters say that distinction could give people with developmental disabilities meaningful assistance without unnecessarily stripping them of autonomy. But the proposal raises a different concern: If the arrangement operates largely outside the courts, who makes sure the person providing that help isn’t exerting undue influence or taking advantage of the person they’re supposed to support?

That question has emerged as a central point of debate over SB 35, which passed the Senate unanimously last year and is now before the House Children and Human Services Committee.

The proposal from Republican Sens. Jerry Cirino of Kirtland and Michele Reynolds of Canal Winchester has drawn considerable support during two House hearings, along with questions about who is eligible to enter such an agreement, who can serve as a supporter and what happens when that person crosses the line.

The nuts and bolts

Supported decision-making itself is not new in Ohio as adults with developmental disabilities already turn to parents, friends and professionals for advice. SB 35 would give that practice a formal place in state law and create a written framework that families, doctors, banks and courts could recognize.

Under the current draft of the bill:

• All adults with developmental disabilities would be presumed competent unless a court determines otherwise.
• If an adult with a developmental disability who is “of sound mind” voluntarily chooses to enter a written plan, it must be created with the adult’s informed consent. The agreement must be signed before a notary or two adults who are not parties to it.
• Supporters could help explain options and consequences, communicate decisions, obtain relevant medical or financial information and participate in discussions with third parties. The adult could limit what a supporter is allowed to do.
• Supporters would have a fiduciary duty, meaning a legal obligation to put the adult’s interests ahead of their own. A supporter who breaches that duty could be liable for resulting damages.
• The adult could act without the supporter and could modify or end the arrangement at any time by notifying them.
• The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities would create a model plan and educational materials for adults, families and professionals.

Unlike guardianship, the supporter would not replace the adult as the decision-maker. This detail is critical because a guardian is appointed through probate court after a finding of legal incompetence and gains authority to make certain decisions for the person. With supported decision-making, however, the adult keeps that authority.

‘A less restrictive alternative to guardianship’

Supporters of SB 35 describe it as a way to formalize a practice already in play: asking trusted people for advice before making an important decision. The difference is that adults with developmental disabilities would enter a written agreement identifying their supporters while retaining the final authority to make their own choices.

The sponsors presented supported decision-making as “a less restrictive alternative to guardianship,” which is established through a county probate court. In those cases, a judge determines that an adult is legally incompetent and puts someone else in charge to make certain decisions on that person’s behalf.

“We don’t always need to approach everything from a guardian or a control standpoint,” Sen. Reynolds told the committee. “We need to coach individuals to be able to self-actualize and live to their fullest potential.”

The legislation would not change the state’s existing guardianship process or the authority granted under those appointments, meaning people who are unable to manage their own affairs would still be able to seek those protections. Ohio law already requires judges considering guardianship to weigh evidence that someone’s needs could be met through another option when introduced, and SB 35 would specifically allow supported decision-making to be presented that way.

Attorney Derek Graham said the proposal pushes back against the assumption that a developmental-disability diagnosis automatically means that person requires guardianship. His daughter has Down syndrome, and he told lawmakers that people who had never even met her suggested that she would need one after turning 18.

“My wife and I, we don’t want to make decisions for our daughter,” he said. “I want to continue to make decisions with her.”

Likewise, Scott Lundregan of ElevateDD said, “Virtually everything with estate planning and guardianship is all focused on what these people can’t do. Supported decision-making is about what they can do.”

Stephanie Leppert, who also has Down syndrome, described how supported decision-making already works in her life. With advice from friends and family as well as her service coordinator, she was able to move out of her parents’ home after 37 years and has since lived independently.

According to disability rights resource I Decide Kansas, 25 states and the District of Columbia already recognize supported decision-making agreements as legally valid documents.

More freedom, but who is watching?

Critics have questioned whether SB 35 gives adults with developmental disabilities enough protection when someone offering help violates their trust.

Chief Magistrate Lisa Wiseman of the Montgomery County Probate Court testified before the committee to clear up questions and concerns surrounding the bill, clarifying the limited role of judicial supervision in overseeing the proposed framework. Unlike guardianship, a supported decision-making agreement would generally be created privately rather than being filed with or approved through the probate system.

“The court would not be involved, typically, unless somebody has brought an action to the court,” she said, adding that family members could otherwise be unaware that an agreement even exists.

That raised questions about who would detect coercion or exploitation before serious harm occurs. The bill requires the principal -- meaning the adult with a developmental disability who enters the agreement -- to sign voluntarily before a notary or two independent witnesses. However, no judge would independently determine at the outset whether the person understands the agreement or has been pressured into it.

This is a key point of contention because the current draft reads, “If an adult with a developmental disability who is of sound mind voluntarily chooses to enter into a supported decision-making plan, the plan shall be created with the informed consent of the principal.”

Sarah Klingler, who serves on a friend’s supported decision-making team, said the provision is riddled with ambiguity and questioned who would determine whether someone has the mental capacity to enter the agreement. Dawn Bilpuch, who is blind and says she uses supported decision-making, addressed the matter from a different angle, noting that an unclear standard could expose people with disabilities to unnecessary competency testing before they can even use a system intended to increase their independence.

Kristen Henry of Advocacy and Protective Services said “of sound mind” mirrors a standard already used elsewhere in Ohio law, including requirements for creating a health care power of attorney.

Attorney Caroline A. Lahrmann, who is a co-guardian of two adults with developmental disabilities, offered the sharpest criticism. She argued that the wording does not explicitly require someone to be of sound mind before entering an agreement, contending that it only explains what happens when someone who meets that standard chooses to do so. She referred to the language as “malarkey” and “insulting,” arguing that it could leave people who need support vulnerable to legally significant agreements they do not understand.

“This bill treats people with developmental disabilities with less care than any other Ohioan,” she said.

Graham and Wiseman nevertheless testified on the premise that supported decision-making is intended for adults who retain the capacity to make their own decisions, illustrating the disagreement over how clearly the bill itself establishes that threshold.

Lahrmann also objected to who could become a supporter, since SB 35 does not categorically exclude paid service providers or establish criminal-history restrictions, instead relying largely on fiduciary duties and conflict-of-interest rules to hold them accountable. Criticizing the initiative for establishing “no oversight,” she also noted that the proposal does not itself create a new mandatory-reporting requirement for third parties who suspect exploitation.

Henry offered a different assessment and told the committee that “if somebody were to be clearly acting not in good faith, then they would not have the protections that are in that bill.” She also stated that many professionals within Ohio’s developmental-disability system are already required to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation. 

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An alternative to guardianship? Ohio bill promises more independence for adults with disabilities. Critics see risks