Newlywed Man, 95, Dies After Wife Taken Away

A 95-year-old newlywed Virginia man has died just weeks after his 96-year-old wife was taken away by family members to Florida.

Eddie Harrison died Tuesday in a hospital after suffering from influenza, said Rebecca Wright, who was caring for the couple in their Alexandria, Virginia, home. Harrison became distressed after his wife and longtime companion, 96-year-old Edith Hill, was taken away, Wright said. Wright is Hill's daughter.

"He lived for her, and she lived for him. It's the love story of the century," Wright said, recalling how they would dance, take walks and care for each other.

Harrison and Hill's marriage this year after 10 years of companionship was disputed in court. Their wedding was problematic because Hill has been declared legally incapacitated for several years.

Another of Hill's daughters, Patricia Barber, contested the marriage, saying it would complicate the eventual distribution of Hill's estate. But Hill and Harrison said they wanted to stay together.

A judge appointed a new guardian for Hill to protect her interests, removing Barber and Wright as guardians, but left the marriage intact.

On Dec. 6, Hill's guardian arrived to take Hill away to Barber's home in Florida for what was supposed to be a two-week vacation. Police were called to the home during a traumatic 40-minute negotiation to convince Hill to leave, Wright said.

When Hill did not return home as planned after two weeks, Harrison began to realize she was not coming back, Wright said. Daisy Birch, a family friend, said Harrison was heartbroken. He also became ill with the flu and checked himself into a hospital.

Full Article and Source:
Newlywed Man, 95, Dies After Wife Taken Away

Judge Faces Ethics Hearing Over Gifting

A Tulare County judge is facing a hearing over allegations he accused his court clerk in an anonymous letter of an affair and gave her thousands of dollars worth of gifts in violation of judicial ethics.

The Commission on Judicial Performance said Monday it has instituted formal proceedings into the allegations against Tulare County Superior Court Judge Valeriano Saucedo.

The commission says evidence in the case will be presented at a hearing before the commission decides whether the charges have been proven. If it determines they have, punishment can range from privately disciplining the judge to removing him from office.

The commission’s 21-page notice of formal proceedings alleges that Saucedo, 63, paid thousands of dollars in cash to his clerk, paid for a trip to Disneyland for the family of the clerk’s sister, and offered to buy the clerk a BMW. The document cites a string of text messages in late 2013 between the judge and his clerk, who eventually told the judge she would ask to be transferred out of his courtroom. The clerk was married at the time of the text message exchanges.

Full Article and Source:
Tulare County Judge Faces Discipline Over Gift Allegations Involving Clerk

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/12/29/4306931_tulare-county-judge-faces-discipline.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Florida Man Charged With Exploiting Elderly Father

A 51-year-old man has been charged with stealing money from his father, whom he had Power of Attorney.

Hernando County detectives say on or around Sept. 22, they received a notification from the Department of Children and Families that 86-year-old Joseph Prizzi was currently residing in an assisted living facility in the county and his son, Andrew Prizzi, was not paying his bills.

An investigation revealed that Joseph had suffered a fall in the home in early May and was admitted to the hospital at that time.

Andrew indicated to a detective that his father's social security and retirement benefits are deposited into a SunTrust bank account in both of their names, however, Andrew does not contribute to the account. Andrew said that "his father's money is just sitting there."

Detectives then subpoenaed for the bank statements after Andrew refused to hand over any copies.

The statements showed several withdrawals totaling $18,698.26 were made from the account after Joseph was admitted to the hospital.

No payments were made to the assisted living facility or to any of Joseph's physicians. All transactions listed were of no benefit to Joseph. The withdrawal slips on all transactions were signed by Andrew Prizzi.

Andrew Prizzi had a fiduciary duty to act in his father's best interest, including handling Joseph's finances in a responsible manner.

Full Article and Source:
Man Charged With Exploiting Elderly Father

Happy New Year!

As this year passes to the next, we pause and reflect on a few of the highlights of 2014, of which there were too many to cover in a short post.

And we extend our utmost appreciation to all of our members and social media friends who support NASGA and help us raise awareness of guardianship abuse.  You are the energy that keeps us fueled; and we appreciate each and every one of you.

We have a lot of work to do this coming year; and we must remain focused and determined to get it done.  Too many of our loved ones spent the holidays alone when they could have been home with their family or their family could have been with them wherever they are.  We will only grow and stronger with the coming year and more determined to stop guardianship abuse, with your continued support and help!

2014 Year-End Reflection #1: Money Magazine's Naming of NASGA Director Sylvia Rudek as 2014 Money Hero

Sylvia's dedication to NASGA, its members and our cause, and the time she puts in – all volunteer – defines why she was chosen as a Money Hero. She is thoroughly committed to reform of unlawful and abusive guardianships and conservatorships nationwide so future generations will not suffer as did her family member and many elderly and disabled and their families suffer today. Stopping guardianship abuse has become her life's passion. 

This year, she expanded her attention to legislation in her home state.  Her efforts working with Illinois Representative David Harris (R) and also State Senator Steve Stadelman (D) on their legislative bills targeting guardianship abuse reform resulted in the introduction of one bill (HB5573) and the introduction and passing of another (SB1051); and she will continue to work with both lawmakers in 2015.

Sylvia's award also brought national recognition to NASGA and awareness to the subject of guardianship abuse.  Money Magazine came to NASGA; we did not seek them out. Their choice of an advocate for guardianship abuse reform as a Money Hero is a direct statement that guardianship abuse is on the radar of this esteemed national magazine and that Money Magazine recognizes guardianship abuse as threat to the health and wealth of our elderly. 

NASGA is honored that Sylvia Rudek has been recognized for her hard work and her never-ending efforts on behalf of victims and families of guardianship abuse.  She is a true leader, a champion for our cause and an inspiration for all advocates!























NASGA extends its sincere gratitude to Wells Fargo for sponsoring MONEY HEROS and for the special congratulatory kit they sent to Sylvia (pictured with her above, and including the letter posted above) as a forever remembrance of this special honor.

2014 Year-End Reflection #2: Joe Roubicek's New Booklet on Guardianship Abuse

So often when victims tell their story, they are not believed either in part or completely.

Guardianship abuse is a reality that is often seemingly so outrageous, it could not happen in America, the land of the free and home of the brave.  Those who have not heard of guardianship abuse or have not experienced it directly, often have a hard time understanding or wrapping their minds around it.

Joe Roubicek gave advocates a valuable awareness tool this year:  "Guardian Angels, inc.:  The Vile Business of Corrupt Guardianship" - a forty page expose' of present-day corruption within the guardianship industry, that focuses on isolation, medication and disposing of the elderly for their estates.

The booklet is a concise, thought-provoking piece authored by a seasoned investigator of financial exploitation of the elderly crimes.

NASGA suggests all advocates have one of Joe's books on hand, especially  when they are speaking to media or their local elected representatives about their case or our cause.

Thanks, Joe!
Available through Amazon

2014 Year-End Reflection #3: NASGA Member Ginger Franklin's Suit Against Her Former Conservator, Jeanan Mills Stuart

Jeanan Mills Stuart

This lawsuit brings great hope of breaking down the immunity barrier which has insulated and protected many unscrupulous guardians from suit in the past.

See:
Celebrate!  Judge Rules Public Guardian, Jeanan Mills Stuart, IS NOT Immune From Lawsuit

Former Public Guardian, Metro in Court Face-Off

2014 Year-End Reflection #4: Increasing Media Attention

We are very appreciative of the increasing media attention of guardianship and conservatorship abuse, including the hard-hitting Columbus Dispatch expose, Adam Walser’s ABC Action News I-Team’s continuing coverage (including celebrating their award of the prestigious DuPont Award for their series), individual reporters’ coverage of multiple cases in their respective states, a free-lance reporter whose goal is to do a story in every state; and the resultant unscrupulous guardians exposed for theft or other elder abuse.

We thank Marti Oakley for her passion for the cause and for her Internet talk radio shows on guardianship abuse:  T.S. Radio.    We likewise thank advocate Bev Cooper for her weekly Illinois cable show: North Shore "Live": Cooper's Corner.

We have teamed up with many new Social Media pages with whom we share posts:
Boomers Against Elder Abuse
Bendigo Banksters
Save Dorothy Wilson, Legally Kidnapped
Rescue Gary Harvey
GRADE (Guardianship Reform Advocates for the Disabled-Elderly
Elders Against Guardianship
Elder Advocates
Keep Marise Home With Family
Florida Guardianship Law Talking Points
Guardianship Laws
Archangels of Justice
Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Awareness
Arizona Probate Reform

And we appreciate every social media "like" and "share" because, together we get the word out farther and faster.
Thank you to the power of the press and everyone else who raises awareness of guardianship abuse. 

2014 Year-End Reflection #5: Guardianship Task Forces

More states are stepping up and committing to special Task Forces to investigate guardianship and court practices, and make suggestions and plans for reform to the legislators and state government.

The newest to step up, create a Task Force, and submit a report is the State of Pennsylvania.  Their report covered at least 130 suggestions, including volunteer monitoring programs, a Ward's Bill of Rights, and a state-wide database.

NASGA encourages all states to do the same, especially the "retirement" states where there is such a high concentration of elderly people. 

See: Pennsylvania Creates Office to Protect Seniors