The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'Set Up for Failure' (5 of 5)

 ABC10 investigative reporter Andie Judson's year-long investigation found an industry with little oversight from state regulators opening the door to potential abuse. So, what’s being done to regulate the $13 billion conservatorship industry in California? This episode examines legislation that’s currently being debated within our state capitol to answer the question of how to prevent conservatorship abuse. 

Conservatorships in California: Everything you need to know: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/lo...

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The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'Set Up for Failure' (5 of 5)

 

The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'The Fight for Accountability' (4/5)

The job title of a fiduciary is broad and powerful. Fiduciaries are trained to manage their client’s wealth, well-being, and assets. It’s also the certification needed to be a conservator. 

After abuse was exposed in California conservatorships, the state created the Professional Fiduciary Bureau under the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The PFB was set up to regulate “non-family member professional fiduciaries.” 

But the state entity that was created to provide oversight and protect clients has never - once - issued a citation for abuse. Abuse that could be going under the radar, as the bureau only has one investigator to look into the hundreds of detailed complaints they receive. 

Our investigation shines a light on the failure of a bureau that was set up to ensure the protection of fiduciary clients, many who are society’s most vulnerable. Conservatorships in California: Everything you need to know: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/lo...

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The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'The Fight for Accountability' (4/5) 

The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'The Old Boy's Club' (Episode Three)

Conservatorships give control over someone’s life, money and assets to another, and if families aren’t getting along, the probate court usually will appoint a third-party fiduciary to be conservator. It’s a life-changing decision that’s often made quickly; probate courts throughout California are inundated, with judges seeing hundreds of cases in a week, sometimes dozens an hour. 

This episode digs into how our probate court system works and narrows in on the happenings of the Sacramento County Probate Court, one that multiple insiders and experts have referred to as a “good old boys’ club” throughout ABC10’s year-long investigation. Many believe it’s a club that’s benefitting its members, particularly through loopholes that some believe are leading to corruption in conservatorships. 

Conservatorships in California: Everything you need to know: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/lo...

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The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'The Old Boy's Club' (Episode Three)

The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'Patterns of Control (Episode Two)

 

Isolation from family and friends, depletion of estates and a group of the same attorneys, conservators, medical providers and caregivers working together. These are a few of the patterns ABC10 investigative reporter Andie Judson found in her year-long investigation into California conservatorships including a Sacramento area family business – mother, son, and daughter – who control over a quarter billion dollars of other people’s assets combined. 

 

This episode dives deep into an industry that many believe is benefitting its members, rather than the person it’s supposed to care for, typically an elderly person under conservatorship. Conservatorships in California: Everything you need to know: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/lo...

 

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The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'Patterns of Control (Episode Two)

The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'Civil Death'

Conservatorships are becoming more common for one of our most vulnerable demographics: our elderly. ABC10's investigation reveals the complex workings of the system.

 

Author: abc10.com

Published: 10:37 PM PDT May 24, 2021

Updated: 10:37 PM PDT May 24, 2021

 

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The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships | 'Civil Death'

ABC10 to release year-long investigation of California's conservatorship industry

Investigative reporter Andie Judson champions this ABC10 Originals series, “Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships”.

Credit: ABC10/KXTV

Author: KXTV Staff 

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — One year in the making, ABC10 Investigative Reporter Andie Judson closely examines California's conservatorships and what's being done to regulate the $13-billion-dollar industry in her 5-part series, "The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships."

The series will air every day on Late News Tonight at 11 p.m. starting Monday, May 24 through Friday, May 28 on ABC10.

Many may have heard of conservatorships recently by way of Britney Spears or the Golden Globe winning Netflix film, “I Care a Lot," but for Judson it all started with a tip from a woman who became one of the sources in the series.

"I called and during our hour long conversation, she explained how her mother was under a conservatorship and what that meant," Judson remembers. 

Not familiar with conservatorships prior to that conversation, she recognized how "incredibly important" it was that a conservator is able to hold that much power over another person.

"A conservatorship is a court case where a judge appoints a responsible person or organization (called the “conservator”) to care for another adult (called the “conservatee") who cannot care for himself or herself or manage his or her own finances," according to Judicial Council of California.

Gonzalo Magaña, Executive Producer of ABC10 Originals team, said what began as an initial pitch about fiduciaries turned into an in-depth look at conservatorships in California — the immense power and control conservators and fiduciaries have over other people’s lives and their money — with little oversight and accountability from state regulators resulting in abuse of our most vulnerable population, the elderly.  

“It’s a really complex system,” is a common sentiment many have shared with Judson throughout the course of the series. 

"I believe just because something’s complex doesn’t mean that we aren’t entitled to understand it," Judson said. "In fact, isn’t that more reason to be shining a light on it for our community?" 

For a year, Judson and the ABC10 Originals team delved into California’s conservatorship system. She says they scoured hundreds of court documents and spoke with dozens of people from attorneys, judges, and California legislators to those under conservatorships and their family members to create the series. 

The investigation was underway during the coronavirus pandemic providing additional hurdles securing and performing in-person interviews and access to important documents.

"I am so proud of the ABC10 journalists who worked tirelessly to bring the stories of those impacted to life," Jill Manuel, Director of Content at ABC10, said.

ABC10 Photojournalist Victor Nieto served as the lead photojournalist, editor on the project and helped conduct the investigation. Digital Producer Sabrina Sanchez served as associate producer and helped conduct research, and lead the social and digital rollout alongside Content Producer, Mike Bunnell. Photojournalists Tyler Horst and Rory Ward served as producers and editors of the year-long investigation.

"I hope this series helps communities throughout California better understand how our conservators, fiduciaries and probate courts are operating," Judson said.

Risa Omega, President and General Manager of ABC10, wants the series to not only educate ABC10 viewers on how conservatorships work but also help people protect themselves and their loved ones in the future.

"We hope shining a light on the systemic problem will lead to new laws and protocols that will regulate fiduciaries and hold them accountable for their practices," Judson said.

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ABC10 to release year-long investigation of California's conservatorship industry