National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Inside Wendy Williams’ $52K-per-month assisted living ‘prison’ with a gourmet chef, 24/7 concierge service and more

By Whitney Vasquez

Wendy Williams might think her living facility is a penitentiary — but to the average Joe, the amenities make it sound like a vacation.

The former talk show host, 60, has been holed up in a New York assisted living facility after her court-ordered guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, took control of her well-being and finances. It was later revealed the television personality was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which Williams now claims she does not have.

She recently said she’s living in a luxury “prison” and has only been allowed outside twice in the past month; however, her facility offers plenty of high-brow amenities for residents.

Jeremy Clerc, co-founder and CEO of Assisted, a company that helps find the ideal care communities and homes for seniors, told The Post that single rooms at Williams’ facility run a cool $27K per month.

But that’s not all.

“The Wendy Williams Show” alum is in the memory unit, which tacks on additional costs of between $10K to $25K, meaning her facility could put her back $52K per month if she’s getting the top care.

Williams’ senior living center comes with five-star amenities, including gourmet dining with chef-prepared meals, according to Clerc, who shared that customized nutrition plans for residents can also be provided.

Williams’ facility comes with 24/7 concierge service, a full-service spa, a fitness center and plenty of recreational activities, from cultural experiences to in-house entertainment.

If residents don’t want to engage or bond, they can retreat to their private apartments.

Clerc, who has placed seniors at Williams’ center, shared that each suite is decked out with stylish furnishings and smart home technology.

The biggest one-bedroom at the facility is 808 square feet, with the largest being a two-bedroom 1,245 square foot apartment that would include additional costs.

An employee at her facility told TMZ that she was placed in the memory care unit after allegedly getting drunk during lunch at the care center.

The insider claimed Williams was initially placed on a floor without any restrictions until the alleged incident happened eight months ago. When the supervisors found out, they reportedly moved her to the memory care unit, which does not give her access to the elevator, in order to prevent another alleged repeat, according to the outlet.

The Post reached out to Williams’ lawyers, who declined to comment, and Morrissey but did not hear back.

Last week, Williams signed an affidavit asking a judge to terminate her guardianship. She is allegedly scheduled to meet a physician chosen by her new legal team to undergo another mental evaluation sometime this week.

This is the latest move in her battle to end her guardianship.

Her attorney, Jason Atlas, told The Post at the time that “everyone in the case has Wendy’s best interests at heart and we all expect that the ultimate outcome will be in line with those best interests.”

Morrissey previously informed the judge that she has no qualms about Williams doing another medical evaluation after the host claimed she isn’t suffering from dementia; however, the guardian pointed out that she was diagnosed by doctors at Weill Cornell Medical Center and it was the judge overseeing Williams’ case who ruled her “incapacitated.”

In January, Williams called her situation “emotional abuse,” telling Charlamagne tha God that her life is “f–ked up” and she feels like she’s “in prison.”

While speaking to TMZ for the documentary, “TMZ Presents: Saving Wendy,” which is available on Tubi, she argued that she’s not “cognitively impaired” and wanted her freedom back.

Over the weekend, Williams got a taste of freedom as she was allowed to visit her father for his 94th birthday in Miami.

Full Article & Source:
Inside Wendy Williams’ $52K-per-month assisted living ‘prison’ with a gourmet chef, 24/7 concierge service and more

Wendy Williams' Conservatorship Inspires Family Visitation Rights Reform by New York Senator

TMZ: Wendy Williams 'locked up in a room', dementia diagnosis in question

FIGHT FOR FREEDOM Wendy Williams’ lawyer to ‘file petition to terminate guardianship’ after struggling star claims she’s ‘in a prison’

Wendy Williams Dementia Denial Pushes Legal Guardian To Order A New Medical Evaluation

Judge allows Wendy Williams to fly to Miami to celebrate her father’s 94th birthday amid guardianship battle

Why Wendy Williams Reportedly Fired Attorney Amid #FreeWendy Battle

Britney Spears Steps in to Help Wendy Williams Get Out of 'Abusive' Conservatorship

Wendy Williams

Three Years After Britney, Wendy Williams Shows Celebrity Conservatorships May Still Be Toxic to Women

Senator Palumbo and Families Push for Guardianship Reform Urge Passage of Karilyn’s Law in 2025

House panel OKs the use of ‘granny cams’ in long term care facilities

By: Christine Sexton

“Granny cams” may be coming to Florida nursing homes.

A House panel on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to approve a bill (HB 223) that would allow long term care facility residents to install electronic recording devices as long as they are willing to foot the bill for installation, removal, and the internet needed to run them.

Nursing home residents who share rooms would have to secure permission from their roommates to use the cameras. Consenting roommates are allowed to put restrictions on camera use and require that the camera be pointed away or prohibit use of specific devices.

If a roommate doesn’t agree, the legislation would require a facility to make accommodations by moving one of the residents to another room.

“If you look at the news lately, you’ll see and you’ll find whether there’s a lot of issues happening that people catch on cameras that they otherwise would would not. And they’re horrific scenes happening to people who are elderly, who can’t take care of themselves, and who, even if they could say what happened, people wouldn’t believe it, because maybe they have dementia or Alzheimer’s or something that would cause someone to not believe what they are saying,” bill sponsor Rep. Susan Plasecia, a Republican representing part of Orange and Seminole counties, told members of the House Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee Thursday.

“And so for me, it’s important to speak for them and that’s what brought me here.”

Nineteen states allow camera use in nursing homes, Plasencia said. Florida law, though, is silent on whether electronic recording devices can be used. That means facilities decide whether to allow them.

Plasencia said her bill protects the public and puts “guardrails” into statutes outlining what can and cannot be done.

The vote to advance the bill came over objections of Florida’s long term care industry.

We know that nursing home and assisted living facility cameras help with deterring abuse and neglect and also help with identifying where there can be improvements made to a loved one's care.

– AARP Florida Associate State Director of Advocacy Karen Murillo

Jen Lawrence, chief nursing officer at Aston Health and a member of the statewide nursing home association, the Florida Health Care Association, said lots of personal things happen in residents’ rooms, including bathing and grooming, psychiatric visits, and meetings with clergy. The cameras, she said, will capture it all.

Moreover, she expressed concerns that the resident’s family or guardian would be responsible for ensuring the roommate’s privacy is protected. “This is a family member of a roommate. How do we trust those folks in controlling what is being videotaped and recorded?” Lawrence asked.

Maryellen Lalor with the group Protect Florida Seniors testified for the bill, sharing the story of her husband who lived in a nursing home for more than 2 1/2 years before dying. She tried to sneak a camera into her husband’s room after he was admitted but the facility found it and made her remove it. She said she never complained out of fear of retaliation against her husband, knowing he would reside in the facility until he died.

Lalor countered Lawrence’s testimony by telling the subcommittee members that nursing home residents in semi-private rooms don’t enjoy the privacy that people think they might.

“As far as confidentiality, when you’re in a semi-private room and they’re going to do personal care to the other person, the curtain is pulled. When you are meeting with a psychologist or therapist, that person goes right in. The other [resident] can hear, okay? So as far as the concern about hearing other people, everything is exposed.”

FHCA wasn’t the only long term care association to flag concerns. Florida Assisted Living Association CEO Bijou Ikli and Florida Senior Living Association vice president for Public Policy and legal Affairs Jason Hand also expressed concerns.

But Karen Murillo, AARP Florida’s state director for advocacy, argued the bill would improve safety and keep the family members abreast of the care being provided to their loved ones.

“We know that nursing home and assisted living facility cameras help with deterring abuse and neglect and also help with identifying where there can be improvements made to a loved one’s care. AARP is a big advocate of family caregivers, especially those who are far away, and these cameras will provide peace of mind and the ability for family caregivers to be advocates, present, and part of their loved ones’ care,” Murillo said.

Spike in abuse reports

The legislation comes a year after the Tampa Bay Times reported a spike in allegations of serious violations against Florida nursing homes — between 2019 and 2022, nearly double the reports during the previous six years.

The Times’ reporting showed that in 2022, nursing homes were cited 83 times for putting older adult residents at risk of immediate danger.

Looking ahead

Several of the committee members asked about privacy, how often the agreements between roommates could be altered, who would enforce the agreements, and whether long term care facility staff could access the images being captured.

Rep. Hillary Cassel, a Republican from Fort Lauderdale, worried about how visitors, some of whom could suffer from dementia or have vision problems, would know video cameras were being used in the room.

Plasencia committed to continuing to work with members to address their concerns. Reps. Daryl Campbell, a Democrat from Fort Lauderdale, and Gallop Franklin, a Democrat from Tallahassee, voted against the bill.

HB 223 has two more committee stops (Judiciary and Health and Human Services) before it can be heard on the floor.

A companion bill (SB 64) was filed by Republican Sen. Illeana Garcia. It has been referenced to three Senate committees (Health Policy, Judiciary, and Rules) but has yet to be considered.

Full Article & Source:
House panel OKs the use of ‘granny cams’ in long term care facilities

Friday, February 21, 2025

Lawsuit Filed By 17 States Threatens Disability Protections, Advocates Say

by Michelle Diament

Disability advocates are sounding the alarm about a lawsuit filed by 17 states questioning the constitutionality of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. (Thinkstock)

Over a dozen states are seeking to invalidate one of the nation’s key disability rights laws, advocates are warning, jeopardizing access to health care, education and more.

A lawsuit brought by Texas and 16 other states is calling for an end to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The 1973 law bars discrimination on the basis of disability at any entity that receives federal funds.

The suit known as Texas v. Becerra was filed in response to an update to Section 504 regulations that was finalized by the Biden administration last year. With the litigation, the states are looking to ensure that gender dysphoria does not qualify as a disability under the rule. However, in challenging the regulations, the states’ lawsuit asks the court to “declare Section 504, 29 U.S.C. § 794, unconstitutional” in its entirety.

“If this happens, it would be a disaster for disabled people and everything from education to employment would be negatively impacted,” said Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities.

Section 504 has a broad reach, extending to health care, public education, housing, transportation and much more, advocates say. While many students with disabilities are covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, federal figures show that 3% of students are served under Section 504 alone.

The latest 504 regulations clarified that medical providers cannot make treatment decisions based on disability biases, expanded the availability of accessible medical diagnostic equipment and set expectations for accessibility on providers’ websites and mobile applications, among other changes.

If the court were to determine that Section 504 is unconstitutional, disability advocates are concerned that the basis of such a decision could also undermine other laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“If the judge were to adopt it, and actually declare the statute unconstitutional, it could portend that other anti-discrimination statutes based on race and sex and ethnicity are also unconstitutional for the same reason,” Steven Schwartz, senior counsel at the Center for Public Representation, said during a recent webinar. “And because there’s provisions in the regulations that tie together, that link 504 and the ADA, and prohibitions on race and sex discrimination, it links them all in how they’re enforced. Striking down the rule might imperil the ADA as well.”

Schwartz described that scenario as “simply frightening.”

Now, disability advocates across the nation are calling for states to back out of the litigation. And, facing significant pressure, the attorneys general are attempting to distance themselves from the suit’s request to overturn Section 504.

“Plaintiffs clarify that they have never moved — and do not plan to move — the court to declare or enjoin Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794, as unconstitutional on its face,” reads a joint status report the states filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas on Wednesday.

The attorneys general indicated in the filing that they are continuing to evaluate their position in light of a recent executive order President Donald Trump issued on gender ideology. But, a statement from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office said that the filing is “a big step towards this lawsuit winding down and going away entirely.”

However, the latest filing is not easing concerns from advocates.

“Despite representations from several attorneys general that the lawsuit would be dropped, they’d withdraw from the lawsuit or they’d withdraw the constitutional challenge to Section 504, none of that occurred. They did not file an amended complaint, so the claims and scope of the case remain unchanged,” said Alison Barkoff, a professor at George Washington University who led the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Community Living under the Biden administration.

Rather, Barkoff said that the filing actually doubles down on the states’ constitutional claim.

“As an example, they claim the rule’s requirement to provide services in the ‘most integrated setting’ consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. is unconstitutional,” Barkoff said. “If a court were to agree with them, not only would it undermine 25 years of progress through Olmstead enforcement but it would also mean that Section 504 would not apply to entities that receive federal health care, education, housing or transportation funding.”

In addition to Texas and South Carolina, the other states involved in the lawsuit are Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

The case is currently paused, with another update expected in a month.

(Updated: February 20, 2025 at 11:20 p.m. ET)

Full Article & Source:
Lawsuit Filed By 17 States Threatens Disability Protections, Advocates Say

World Congress on Adult Support and Care

by Sally Balch Hurme, J.D.

Every two years since 2010 elder and disability rights advocates from around the world have convened an international conference that is designed to strengthen understanding of the international standards that protect the daily exercise of rights by adults with disabilities and older persons and to enhance their independent living.

Initially called the World Congress on Adult Guardianship, the name of the Congress has changed to the World Congress on Adult Support and Care. This change reflects the reality that much of the world has moved away from guardianship to supported decision making.

The international emphasis on adult capacity and self-autonomy flows from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). Its Article 12 states that persons with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life and that appropriate measures should be taken to provide access by persons with disabilities to the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity. Although the United States Senate did not ratify this UN convention, twenty-eight states have now adopted laws that formally endorse supported decision-making agreements or that recognize supported decision-making as a less restrictive alternative to guardianship.

The seventh World Congress on Adult Support and Care was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 27th to 30th, 2024. This was the first time that a World Congress was held in a Latin American country. Prior Congresses have been held in Australia, Germany, Japan, Korea and Scotland, with the United States being the host country in 2014.

This was the largest Congress to date with approximately 600 participants from 32 nations and all continents. The home countries of the participants included Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Uruguay, and the United States. The United States was represented by then NGA President Shannon Butler, owner of a professional guardianship agency in Minnesota; Elizbeth Moran, executive director of Colorado ARC; Carol Kelly, a guardian from North Carolina; Marshall Herron, a private fiduciary in Tucson; Michael Hagenlock with the National Adult Protective Services Association; Samantha Martin, a New Hampshire guardian; Yolande Erickson and Janet Morris with Bet Tzedek Legal Services in Los Angeles; and Sally Hurme, Virginia elder law attorney.

Erickson, Morris and Hurme were honored to be among the many speakers—over 200—throughout the marathon four-day event. To squeeze in 32 panels and six plenary sessions, the program started at 9 am and continued to 8 pm, with a one-hour break for lunch.

Key to this international event, panelists from multiple countries explained how their countries address the legal responsibilities of caregivers, families, professionals, supporters and the justice system. They also explained how support, including formal and informal care, as well as support in multicultural and diverse communities is provided.

As just one example, Maria Mammeri-Latzel, a Civil Law District Court Judge from Kopenick, Germany, explained that under the German system full adult guardianship has been abolished. In its place is Rechtliche Betreuung, or legal caretaking. As the judge explained, the judge’s role is to safeguard the adult’s interests and follow the adult’s choice of who will be their Betreuung. Judges must have contact with the adult to find out their will and preferences and they typically hold hearings wherever the person lives. Judges will not appoint a Betreuung if the person can manage independently or with the support of family, friends or social services. If a Betreuung is appointed, they must give the elder or disabled person the possibility to live a self-determined life and must respect the adult’s will and preferences. Every adult, even if a Betreuung is appointed, can exercise their fundamental rights to vote, marry, and make a will. Betreuungs are appointed for a limited time, not to exceed seven years.

Several Latin American speakers explained the prominent role notarios have in their countries in preparing “deeds of declaration of support.” These documents, akin to our powers of attorney, allow adults to state their preferences for health and financial support. According to Rosalía Mejía Rosasco of Peru, the notarios provide one-on-one guidance to ensure “that the will, preferences, and autonomy of elderly persons are met, in that period of life in which they require assistance to express their will in the performance of legal acts “

This Congress placed a special focus on the gender perspective of adult support and care. Panelists explored the relationship between gender, diversity, and identity and discussed issues related to sexual and reproductive rights. Other sessions examined how accessibility, reasonable adjustments, and advancements in technology (digital health, robotics, AI) can improve the lives of those with disabilities. Presentations explored access to justice for those with capacity issues, the process for determining legal capacity, and judicial oversight. Several sessions discussed the impact of climate change, emergencies, and disasters on support systems.

Abstracts of all the presentations, along with speaker bios, as well as the full presentations in both English and Spanish are available in eBook format for free download from the National Guardianship Association at www.guardianship.org/wp-content/uploads/acciones-positivas-2024-1.pdf and www.guardianship.org/wp-content/uploads/Libro-Programa-2024.pdf.

The next World Congress will be held in Amsterdam in 2026. The 2028 site is planned for Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

Full Article & Source:
World Congress on Adult Support and Care

Wendy Williams Case Shines Spotlight on Guardianships

By Lee Pruitt

Takeaways

Guardianships may be necessary to protect individuals with cognitive impairments, but they can also limit personal freedom and autonomy.
Wendy Williams' guardianship case highlights the importance of legal representation and proactive estate planning.

Dementia is on the rise and is affecting millions of families across the United States. As dementia erodes a person’s mental faculties, they lose the ability to manage their life. This can lead to losing money through bad financial decisions or a higher risk of injury from falls or accidents at home or in the community. To help the affected person, family members sometimes have to turn to the court system to ensure the safety and well-being of their loved one.

A court can order a person with compromised mental faculties to be placed in a guardianship or conservatorship arrangement. (Note that the terms used can vary depending on the state.) These arrangements give a mentally able person control over certain aspects of the stricken person’s life. Though the intention of such an arrangement is to protect the afflicted person, it may also end up greatly limiting their freedom and sense of autonomy.

The recent guardianship struggles of Wendy Williams, former radio personality and talk show host for The Wendy Williams Show, and the previous conservatorship lawsuit involving pop star Britney Spears have brought significant attention to the complexities and potential pitfalls of such legal arrangements. Both cases underscore the delicate balance between protecting individuals with cognitive impairments and preserving their personal autonomy.

Wendy Williams’ Dementia and Guardianship

In early 2022, financial institution Wells Fargo froze Williams’ accounts, citing concerns over unusual activity. This action led to Williams being diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and placed under a court-ordered guardianship. Williams has contested the diagnosis and claims that she is capable of managing her affairs. She has described her experience under guardianship as isolating and akin to imprisonment, expressing frustration over her lack of freedom and limited access to her finances.

Britney Spears’ Conservatorship

Britney Spears’ conservatorship, which began in 2008, placed her personal and financial decisions under the control of her father and legal representatives. Spears publicly described the arrangement as abusive, highlighting forced work schedules, restricted personal freedoms, and financial exploitation. Her testimony in 2021, coupled with the #FreeBritney movement, culminated in the termination of her conservatorship later that year.

Issues and Solutions

Both Williams and Spears experienced legal constraints that severely limited their personal and financial freedoms, despite their public personas and professional successes. These cases highlight several critical issues:

Oversight and Accountability. Guardianships can be susceptible to misuse and overreach. Regular, independent reviews are essential to ensure that such arrangements serve the person’s best interests.
Legal Representation. Access to knowledgeable legal counsel is crucial for individuals under guardianship who wish to challenge unjust arrangements and advocate for their rights.
Public Advocacy. Awareness campaigns, such as the #FreeBritney movement, can shed light on potential abuses within guardianship systems and drive legislative reforms.

FTD and Related Impairments

FTD is a group of brain disorders affecting the frontal and temporal lobes, leading to changes in personality, behavior, and language. Unlike other forms of dementia, FTD often manifests at a younger age, typically between ages 45 and 65. Symptoms vary from person to person but may include impulsive actions, inappropriate social behavior, and language difficulties. People with FTD may have a family history of this type of dementia.

Aphasia affects the frontal lobe of the brain, impairing speech and language abilities, comprehension, reading, and writing. These cognitive impairments can hinder a person’s capacity to manage their personal and financial affairs, sometimes prompting the establishment of a guardianship. As progressive conditions, FTD and aphasia both tend to come with symptoms that get worse over time.

As of this writing, Williams’ guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, and her team are calling for a new medical evaluation to confirm Williams’ diagnosis.

The Importance of Estate Planning

Proactive estate planning is vital for safeguarding one’s autonomy and ensuring that personal wishes are honored in the event of cognitive decline. Key components of your estate plan may include the following:

Advance Health Care Directive. This legal document outlines preferred medical treatments and designates decision-makers if one becomes incapacitated.
Durable Power of Attorney (POA). A POA appoints a trusted individual to handle financial, medical, and/or legal matters on one’s behalf.
Living Will. This legal instrument allows one to specify their desired end-of-life care and medical interventions.

Facing a dementia diagnosis can be distressing. You want to have peace of mind that your wishes regarding your care will be respected. With an attorney’s help, you can set up these legal measures to maintain better control over your affairs and reduce the likelihood of unwarranted guardianship interventions as your cognitive abilities decline.

Learn More About Coping With Dementia

The experiences of Williams and Spears serve as cautionary tales, emphasizing the need for vigilant oversight, robust legal protections, and comprehensive estate planning to protect personal autonomy and prevent potential abuses within guardianship arrangements.

Reach out to an experienced elder law attorney near you if you have questions about how to care for a loved one with dementia or to plan ahead for the possibility of dementia. These professionals can offer expert help with long-term planning and health care for those diagnosed with dementia.

An attorney can help set up a guardianship if needed but also explore less restrictive options. They can aid in navigating the complexities of Medicaid and other programs that may help cover long-term care. This may include asset protection strategies, such as creating a trust, to prevent losing the patient’s wealth to long-term care costs.

An elder care lawyer can also assist in identifying and preventing financial abuse of people with dementia, by securing financial accounts or addressing fraud or neglect concerns. If the dementia is severe, they may be able to help secure disability benefits or other assistance the person qualifies for.

For additional reading about dementia and estate planning, check out the following articles:

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams Case Shines Spotlight on Guardianships

Thursday, February 20, 2025

3 arrested for kidnapping in Novato in ‘conservatorship’ scheme: police

by: Phil Mayer

(KRON) — Three people were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a patient at a health care facility in Novato on Saturday, the Novato Police Department said. Police believe the crime was part of a scheme in which the suspects tried to gain “conservatorship” of the victim.

The kidnapping was reported at about 11 a.m. Three suspects abducted a patient and assaulted a nurse who tried to stop them, NPD said.

They left the facility and drove towards South Novato Boulevard. Police did not name the facility where the patient was staying.

Less than 20 minutes later, a Marin County Sheriff’s deputy saw the vehicle on US-101 and conducted a traffic stop near the Spencer Avenue exit.

NPD arrived and arrested all three suspects. The victim was in the car, and they were taken to a hospital for precautionary purposes.

An NPD investigation revealed that the victim was under a conservatorship, meaning a court declared a separate person or organization responsible for their finances and personal care. The suspects were not in control, but police believe they tried to fraudulently obtain conservatorship for financial purposes by kidnapping the victim.

The suspects were identified as Michael Roberts, 49, of Dana Point, Laura Boyle, 61, of Mission Viejo, and Paula Burkes, 57, of Mission Viejo. They were booked into jail for crimes including kidnapping, elder abuse, battery, burglary and conspiracy.

Krysta Boyle, 38, of Mission Viejo has been linked to the case as well as a conspirator. NPD recommended the Marin County District Attorney’s office to charge her.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call (415) 897-4361 and mention case NP25-0413.

Full Article & Source:
3 arrested for kidnapping in Novato in ‘conservatorship’ scheme: police

Colonial Heights nursing home in elder abuse case challenges aspects of police search warrants

Lawyers for Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, where more than a dozen employees have been charged in an elder abuse investigation, are weighing in on the criminal case.

Source:
Colonial Heights nursing home in elder abuse case challenges aspects of police search warrants

Police swarm Colonial Heights nursing home, arrest employees after patient death

Colonial Heights nursing home cited by VDH for deficiencies, then found compliant days before abuse complaint

One of 4 Colonial Heights nursing home employees jailed for abuse gets bond: Court records

Night nurse granted bond in elder-abuse death case; prosecutor said condition 'ignored'

Trial again delayed in Nexus financial exploitation case

By Randi B. Hagi

Michael Donovan, left, and Richard Moore have each been charged with two counts of obtaining money through false pretenses and two counts of exploiting a mental incapacity for financial gain in the Augusta County Circuit Court.

An Augusta County judge has rescheduled a trial for the fourth time for the leaders of the company Nexus, who stand accused of financially exploiting a young man they took in. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.

Michael Donovan, Richard Moore, and former Nexus employee Timothy Shipe were arrested in 2022 for allegedly stealing more than $400,000 of life insurance money belonging to Zachary Cruz. Moore and Donovan took Cruz in after the Parkland school shooting committed by Cruz's brother.

Judge Sean Workowski presided over a hearing in the case on Wednesday. Shipe was present in the courtroom, but Donovan and Moore were not – appearing via phone call from Virginia Beach with their attorney, John D. Hooker, which they had not been authorized to do.

Judge Workowski said that an hour before the hearing, he received a motion from Hooker to continue, or delay, the case. Workowski noted that the trial has already been postponed three times, and was scheduled to begin on March 3rd.

Hooker argued that he was experiencing medical issues that would not allow him to go to trial so soon. He also said he wasn't prepared to defend his clients, because he hadn't been given the prosecution's evidence since being retained last August. Commonwealth's Attorney Tim Martin told the court his office gave Donovan and Moore's previous attorney the evidence back in 2023. Shipe's attorney agreed that the prosecution had fulfilled their obligations to the defendants.

Martin called Donovan and Moore's conduct "a purposeful and deliberate and considered strategy for delay," citing other court cases that have languished for multiple years. As WMRA has reported, federal prosecutors and judges have previously lambasted the defendants' delay tactics in multiple civil and criminal cases. However, Martin acknowledged that since Hooker argued he didn't have enough time to prepare for trial, that could give the defendants grounds for an appeal if they were to be convicted in March.

Judge Workowski granted the motion and rescheduled the trial to begin August 4th, but noted the repeated continuances were "getting ridiculous." He directed Hooker to research whether he could legally represent both Donovan and Moore without a conflict of interest, even if the married couple waives their right to other counsel.

Workowski also instructed the prosecutor's office to prepare paperwork requesting Moore's presence at the trial, since he may be in federal custody following his May 29th sentencing for tax evasion.

Full Article & Source:
Trial again delayed in Nexus financial exploitation case

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Wendy Williams' 94-year old dad dances at his birthday party: 'Love you endlessly Papa'

by Chris Jordan

Key Points

Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, but she's disputed the diagnoses in recent interviews.
The Asbury Park and Ocean Township native was the host of TV’s “The Wendy Williams Show” from 2008 to 2021.

Keep on dancing!

Wendy Williams' 94-year old dad Thomas Williams danced at his birthday party in Miami over the weekend. His granddaughter, Alex Finnie, shared a video of Thomas, a former teacher and football coach at Asbury Park High School, dancing up a storm on Instagram.

“Happy 94th birthday to my Papa who continues dancing his way through life and leads with the quote, 'You’re never too old to do what you might have done,' ” Finnie said. “I love you endlessly Papa (heart emoji) happy birthday.”

Beyonce's "Before I Let Go" plays while dad dances. Wendy, 60, attended the party but was not shown in her dad's dance video.

Dad Thomas was the first Black principal at the former River Street School in Red Bank in 1969. Shirley, his wife and Wendy's mom, passed away in 2020. She was a member of civic groups ranging from the Monmouth County Council of Girl Scouts to the Central Jersey Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women.

Alex's mom, and Wendy's sister, is Wanda Finnie, a former New Jersey Assistant Deputy Public Defender. Their brother is Thomas Williams Jr.

All aspects of Wendy's life, including financial and living arrangements, are decided by court-appointed guardian Sabrina Morrissey. In 2022, Wendy's bank, Wells Fargo, claimed Wendy was “the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.”

Part of the legal equation was the alleged expenditure of more than $100,000 on Uber Eats by her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., as stated in the 2024 Lifetime documentary “Where's Wendy Williams.” Another $100,000 plus expenditure by Hunter Jr., related to a boat rental for a birthday party, was discussed in the recent TMZ Tubi documentary “Saving Wendy.”

Alex is leading the charge to get Wendy extricated from the guardianship, which has included residency in a memory care unit of an assisted living facility in New York City.

Wendy has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, but she's disputed the diagnoses in recent interviews.

The Asbury Park and Ocean Township native was the host of TV’s “The Wendy Williams Show” from 2008 to 2021. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams' 94-year old dad dances at his birthday party: 'Love you endlessly Papa'