Whistleblower Sues Attorney

Jill Jones-Soderman, a New York based social worker and the executive director of The Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts, has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against her former attorney in federal court for alleged negligence, fraud, deception, malpractice and infliction of emotional distress.

According to Jones-Soderman, she paid Richard Mazaway thousands of dollars over the period he was "representing her." During this time he never filed a motion or legal order on her behalf despite the fact that he had personally uncovered evidence and had access to all pertinent information to prove that she was the victim of malicious judicial fraud and misconduct.

He even found "smoking gun" evidence during discovery from the New Jersey Attorney General's office which showed why the state's licensing board was so aggressively pursuing the revocation of her license - to the point where they were fabricating charges - Jones-Soderman said. On top of that, she was told she could not know the nature of the complaint against her. Yet Mazaway did nothing. The information he obtained proved that Judge Mary Margaret McVeigh had filed fraudulent charges against Jones-Soderman, stating that a report had been written to influence the court. But according to Jones-Soderman, no such report was ever written.

The problems started when Jones-Soderman was fraudulently removed from a case on which she was serving as a forensic consultant. After discovering and attempting to expose the alleged fraud occurring in the family court, she was ordered off the case.

Full Article and Source:
Whistle-blower Jill Jones-Soderman Files Lawsuit Against Her Former Attorney

Rank Greed

A half-priced downtown condo on the Intracoastal.

A $50,000 piece of land.

More than $500,000 in cash that was was used to pay off mortgage, buy a second home in Pennsylvania, and pay tuition at an expensive private school.

Family jewelry, a Dell computer, and a widescreen TV.

These are just some of the things Judge Larry Seidlin obtained from elderly widow Barbara Kasler, according to a civil suit filed by the widown's attorney. The Fort Lauderdale lawyer representing Kasler, Robert Bissonette, filed the suit claiming that "rank greed" led Seidlin to pilfer the widow's assets and belongings.

The suit alleges that Seidlin exploited Kasler after her second son, Frank Gardner, died, leaving her virtually alone. That's when Seidlin pounced, according to the lawsuit.

Full Article and Source:
Lawsuit: 'Rank Greed' Led Judge Seidlin To Exploit Elderly Widow

See also:
Elderly Sues Judge Seidlin

The "Snitch" Rule in Effect

Kentucky’s Supreme Court has approved comprehensive revisions to its rules governing attorney conduct, including a new rule that requires attorneys who know about professional misconduct by other attorneys or judges to report the misconduct.

If Kentucky follows the pattern set in other states which have a similar requirement, few, if any lawyers will ever be cited for ignoring the “snitch” rule. Nevertheless, supporters of the new rule believe it will have a prophylactic effect upon the ethical conduct of attorneys.

The amended rules become effective July 15.

Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr.: “The revised rules reflect thoughtful changes that will bring Kentucky into line with national standards for attorney conduct. Our goal is to improve public confidence in our state’s legal profession by strengthening attorney accountability.”

Full Article and Source:
Kentucky lawyers now required to snitch on judges, one another

See also:
"Squeal Rule" Clarified

Judge Don Windle

Judge Windle Caught

Denton County Judge and Guardian

The Cash In

Attorney General Intervention

The state attorney general claimed victory in a legal battle stemming from 2005 that challenged the legitimacy of a sales agreement in which an elderly woman agreed to sell her home to two men for less than half of what it was worth at the time.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal intervened after Mona Lee Johnson agreed to sell her home, estimated to be worth $1.2 million, for $500,000, a month before she passed away.

The Attorney General's Office alleged that her neighbor, Mark Lovallo, had urged Johnson to sign off on the sales option while she was sick in the hospital. The deal also included her longtime accountant, David Alfano.

Blumenthal said that Johnson never intended to approve the deal, which would have significantly lowered the amount of money that would have been donated to eight of her favorite charities. Johnson's will divided nearly all of her $1.5 million estate to charities including the Greenwich Library and Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich.

Blumenthal: "I fought successfully to stop this suspect agreement denying hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities intended to benefit from the home's sale. In charity law, the donor's wishes are paramount. This donor never wished to sell her home at a bargain-basement price, significantly slashing the proceeds to charities named in her will."

Full Article and Source:
Attorney general intervenes in Greenwich estate case

Credit Card Investigation

Lester Mitchell, an 84-year-old retired farmer, has battled back pain -- "For a long, long while." His first back surgery in 1956 was the first of many.

Lester received a consultation with Dr. Brian Winslow, a West Des Moines chiropractor. Lester was told he could benefit from spinal decompression, a method of stretching the spine and decompressing the discs.

Lester: "They were gonna use a traction like treatment." But before beginning treatment, financing would have to be approved.

The call may have been to "Care Credit," a G.E. financing company. Care Credit is like a credit card for health care. Lester did qualify. Care Credit financed $3500 at a 13.9% interest rate over five years. A late payment would boost the interest rate up to 29.9%.

"I didn't realize I was opening up a new account," says Lester.

Neither did Lester's daughter, Denise, until she saw the bill. "I'm conservator of the account so I pay the bills. I came across a new credit card and the 35-hundred dollar charge."

As conservator, Denise has legal authority to make financial decisions for her father. On May 7, she faxed guardian and conservatorship papers to Care Credit and Dr. Winslow. She asked the account be closed and her father be refunded.

"He was told that that would not happen, by these corporate people and that the program was not $3500, but $9000 and my dad had been given a $500 discount and the rest was being paid by Medicare," says Denise.

The response from Care Credit, "We are not able to accommodate your request at this time."

Full Article and Source:
Back Pain Treatment Investigation

Guardianship Hearing Postponed Again

The guardianship hearing for Michael Jackson's three children that was scheduled for July 20 has been postponed (again) to Aug. 3, according to TMZ.com.

The reason: Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe reportedly are close to striking up a custody settlement. TMZ's sources say that an agreement is expected soon and that the discussion "is amicable and involves the children -- not money."

Katherine Jackson will remain the children's legal guardian until the Aug. 3 hearing.

Full Article and Source:
Michael Jackson: Guardianship hearing postponed

See also:
Second Delay in Guardianship Hearing

Judge Violated 1st Amendment

The Court of Appeals sided with a minister who said his free speech rights were violated after he was imprisoned for criticizing a judge using biblical verses.

Michael Steinberg, Michigan legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Pinkney in his free speech claims: "The Court of Appeals opinion reaffirms the basic American value that citizens cannot be imprisoned for criticizing government officials or expressing their religious beliefs. To our knowledge, this case marks the first time in modern history that a preacher has been thrown in prison for predicting what God might do."

The minister had been sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison for writing a newspaper article that criticized the judge who presided over his trial. In his criticism, he talked about what God would do to the judge. Quoting from the Bible, Pinkney said, "the Lord shall smite thee."

Full Article and Source:
Michigan news briefs: Court rules judge violated 1st Amendment

More information:
Minister Wins Right to Threaten Judge with Biblical Curses

Appeals court hears case of Rev. Pinkney

Rev. Pinkney barred from his own hearing

Rev. Edward Pinkney article:
Corrupt judge denies new jury trial in Pinkney case

Kinship Guardianship

When a child’s parents are in trouble and can no longer care for their child, often foster care is called for. But, for some fortunate children, grandparents or other family members step in to fill the role of parents.

In Mason County a support group for those with kinship guardianship of children meets every month at Mason County Reformed Church to share the joys and trials of raising those children. Most of them are grandparents, and the group is informally called Grandparents Raising Grandchildren although according to the group’s leader, June McMann, it is more accurate to think of it as kinship guardianship.

Full Article and Source:
Kinship guardianship: Parenting all over again