Wendy Williams'
guardianship woes are commanding the attention of at least one New York
lawmaker ... who's making a big push so her family can easily visit
her.
Anthony Palumbo, a N.Y. state senator, tells TMZ ...
today, he is re-introducing a piece of legislation that would change
guardianship laws regarding family visitation in the state.
According to Palumbo, "Karilyn's Law"
would allow families to visit loved ones by filing a motion with the
court ... the guardian would then have 10 days to show the court if the
person intending to visit is displaying inappropriate conduct -- and if
not, they can visit.
He says the law is designed to ensure family members have a legal path
to visit a loved one under a guardianship, which he thinks is lacking
under the existing framework.
Palumbo has been following Wendy's case for years, and says her being locked up in an apartment
is tragic. He goes on to say that even if her memory is failing, she
should still be allowed to be with her family instead of forcibly
separated from them.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Palumbo hopes the
newfound attention surrounding Wendy's case will spur lawmakers into
action. He first proposed Karilyn's Law in 2022, but it didn't get
passed.
Since he first proposed the piece of legislation, he says
his office has received dozens of calls and emails from concerned
citizens about Wendy's guardianship. The way Palumbo sees it,
unfortunately, it can take a celebrity and a tragedy to get people's
attention.
New York's attorney
general is looking into the system of care for the most vulnerable, but
the state needs to do more to expand resources and oversight.
By Times Union Editorial Board, Opinion
The troubled system intended to protect the state’s most vulnerable
residents is getting a look from the state attorney general’s office —
official attention that’s coming none too soon.
Among
many other issues raised by ProPublica, their investigation found that
there are simply too few “examiners” to monitor the care provided by
guardians; only 157 exist for the 17,411 wards in New York City alone.
In
the absence of proper oversight, rogue organizations have enriched
themselves at their wards’ expense. That’s where Attorney
General Letitia James enters to investigate these bad players and, as
ProPublica reported, “how they manage the health and financial affairs
of hundreds of elderly and infirm New Yorkers deemed incapable of
looking after themselves.”
One
such outfit is New York Guardianship Services, on which ProPublica has
reported extensively, noting that it has — among other outrageous cases —
placed a woman in a rat-infested apartment without heat all while the
firm collected $450 a month and reported her situation to the courts as
“appropriate.” This occurred, according to ProPublica, “even as internal
company records and her own emails showed that she’d repeatedly
complained about the conditions.”
NYGS,
which was ordered by a judge to repay that ward $5,400, is one of about
a half-dozen organizations now being investigated by James’ office.
Great news — but what about the guardianship program itself?
Earlier
reporting by ProPublica quoted Kristin Booth Glen, a former judge who
three decades ago helped craft Article 81 of the state Mental Hygiene
Law, the statute that guides guardianship in New York, as acknowledging
the system is now “a total and utter disaster.”
The
state Office of Court Administration has noted that judges backstopping
the system are outmatched by caseloads; it has appointed an advisory
committee to suggest fixes. That committee has now called for a $72
million independent statewide agency to serve as a public guardian.
Advocates
have called on Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders to budget $15
million annually for a statewide network of nonprofits that could shore
up the system. But the fact that the negotiated budget for the current
fiscal year included only $1 million for a statewide guardianship
hotline doesn't bode well for either proposal.
The
hotline might be a fine tool, but it's the equivalent of a Band-Aid on a
sucking chest wound. These are, after all, people who have guardians
because they can’t speak for themselves.
They
are referred to as the “unbefriended” because they don’t have family or
confidants who can represent their best interests. As we speak, the
system rarely checks on these people in person and largely relies on
financial paperwork to determine a person’s well-being.
The
state needs to step in immediately to consider these proposals and find
ways to address alleged abuses, including improved training
requirements for guardians and examiners; increasing the number of
judges to keep eyes on the system; making reporting requirements more
robust; and establishing caseload limits for everyone involved.
Washington long-term care ombuds: ‘This is a statewide problem, and it seems to be increasing’
By Alexis Weisend
The state of Washington prohibits nursing homes from kicking out residents without letting anyone know.
But legislators have failed to extend the same protections to
residents of adult family homes and assisted living facilities, which
generally provide a lower level of care but still house some of the
state’s most vulnerable people.
“We can’t just leave people out,” said state Sen. Paul Harris,
R-Vancouver, whose bill aimed at solving the issue died last session in
the House, where he was serving at the time.
Attorneys and ombuds say the result is an undocumented surge of
displaced residents that’s fueled by a boom in adult family homes, an
aging population, and the state’s mental health and addiction crises.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Rutherford County woman faces charges of financial exploitation, theft, and criminal simulation by the TBI.
According
to investigators, Jill Black Turner had stolen property and cash from
an elderly relative who was living at a Murfreesboro care facility back
in the summer of 2024.
Authorities also believe Turner may be
responsible for using the victim's checking account and had forged a
check in their name.
On January 6, Turner was
indicted with one count each of financial exploitation of an elderly/
vulnerable adult, theft of property $60,000 - $250,00, and criminal
simulation.
She was booked into the Rutherford County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
On Thursday, a
Jefferson Parish judge announced that families involved in a class
action suit against disgraced nursing home owner Bob Dean would receive
final payments soon.
This, as some plaintiffs appeared in court and pleaded for more money.
Hundreds sued Dean for transporting their older family members to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida.
About a dozen people died at the site.
Mitchell Harris is the son of Debra Whiltberger.
"We didn't get justice through Bob Dean. He's living in a nice, beautiful mansion. We are here with nothing," Harris said.
Harris
said his mom was 60 years old when she died just weeks after enduring
horrid conditions at a warehouse in Independence in the wake of
Hurricane Ida.
"She
was bedridden. She had had several strokes. Couldn't walk or eat by
herself. Had no water, during that time, no nothing. Just laid there. I
don't know how she did it," Harris said.
Harris said his family was allocated $10,000 in an initial settlement, and he has to pay attorney fees out of that amount.
It's why he went before the judge to object.
"I'd rather take a loss and fight it than someone offer me an insult on what they think my mom's life was worth," Harris said.
He is not alone. Jeanette Triplette said her mom is still dealing with the latest effects from the terrible experience.
"You can't put a price on someone's life. You can't put a price on someone's quality of life," Triplette said.
More
than 400 patients or their living family members are to split under $9
million in Bob Dean's insurance proceedings. Each of the families who
participated in the class action lawsuit received allocation letters
based on how much officials believed they are owed.
People received different amounts.
These requests come as attorneys said they feel the process has been smooth, given the circumstances.
"Watching
from the outside, it seems like it's been longer. But inside the legal
system, it has moved very quickly," said attorney Rob Couhig Jr.
Attorneys
said most should have received at least two payments. The biggest lump
sum is expected to go out to families. Another payment could follow
based on what is left after that.
WDSU spoke with at least one family who said they received their allocation letter, but so far, no payments.
"None
whatsoever. They sent like $1,000 and $1,700 out. We never got none of
that," said Rachael Ayo, daughter of Ella May Alario.
Dean
was sentenced to three years' probation last July and ordered to pay $2
million in restitution. There is expected to be another hearing to
address the plaintiff's request.
The
judge also said if he agrees to the objection it will slow the process
for those families who objected. But he will look into the matter.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY,
Tenn. (WKRN) — A Rutherford County woman faces a slew of charges after
an investigation revealed she stole from a vulnerable adult, according
to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
Special
agents with the TBI’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division said they began
investigating 60-year-old Jill Black Turner in August 2024 following
allegations of theft and financial exploitation of an elderly adult.
During
the investigation, agents reportedly learned between July 2023 and July
2024, property and cash belonging to an elderly resident at a
Murfreesboro care facility had been stolen. Officials added the victim’s
checking account was also utilized for unauthorized purchases, and her
name had been forged on a check.
According
to the TBI, the investigation identified the suspect as a relative to
the victim. On Jan. 6, 2025, the Rutherford County Grand Jury returned
an indictment charging Turner with one count each of financial
exploitation of a vulnerable adult, theft of property $60,000 – $250,00,
and criminal simulation.
Deputies with the
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office arrested Turner on Jan. 13. She is
being held in the Rutherford County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
No additional details about the incident were immediately released.
Wendy's family, led by her niece Alex Finnie, has started a GoFundMe in
the hopes of raising $50,000 to help with mounting legal fees and
moving her out of the wellness facility she is currently living in , which she claims is like living "in prison."
Though the former radio host was diagnosed with primary progressive
aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in 2023, she is adamant that a legal
conservatorship is not necessary, especially with the support and care
of her family.
In a recent appearance on Power 105's The
Breakfast Club, the 60-year-old spoke directly about her situation,
claiming: "I am not cognitively impaired. But I feel like I am in
prison" and that she is barred from contacting her family. She also
claims that she has experienced "emotional abuse" at the facility she
currently resides in.
The description for the fundraiser reads:
"For far too long, Wendy has faced the challenges of being unjustly
placed under guardianship and labeled as incapacitated, despite her
strong will and determination to live her life independently."
It continues: "The guardian assigned to her has severed her connections
with friends and family, leaving her without the support network she so
desperately needs. This isolation in New York has made it increasingly
difficult for her to maintain her strength and resilience."
The
description concludes: "Wendy's family is passionately advocating for
her return to Florida, where she can once again be surrounded by the
love and support of those who care about her. They are suffering
emotionally as they witness the toll her isolation is taking on her
well-being."
The former radio host's guardianship is similar to
that of fellow stars Britney Spears and Amanda Bynes, who have both
since been freed from the legal confines of their conservatorships. So
far, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $15,000.
Sabrina Morrissey, a name now synonymous with controversy, has come
under intense scrutiny for her role as Wendy Williams’ guardian. As the
famed talk show host and media personality fights to regain control of
her life, Morrissey’s actions—and the system enabling them—are facing
widespread criticism from fans, family, and advocates for reform.
The Role of Sabrina Morrissey in Wendy Williams’ Conservatorship
Morrissey was appointed as Williams’ legal guardian in 2022, a role
that granted her control over the star’s finances, healthcare, and
personal decisions. This legal arrangement came after a public feud
between Wendy and Wells Fargo Bank, along with her former financial
adviser Lori Shiller. Wendy accused them of conspiring to mismanage her
finances, leading to her placement under guardianship.
According to Wendy’s former attorney, the guardianship was less about
protecting the TV star and more about covering up alleged financial
malfeasance. Claims of violations of laws and financial regulations have
further fueled skepticism about the motivations behind the
conservatorship.
Allegations of Emotional and Financial Abuse
In a rare and emotional interview on The Breakfast Club,
Wendy broke her silence, calling out the guardianship as a source of
emotional and financial abuse. She revealed she is confined to a New
York facility, allowed no visitors, and has limited access to
communication. Wendy described her daily life as “prison-like,” sharing
that she only has $15 to her name, cannot receive phone calls, and has
no access to a laptop or the internet.
Williams’ niece, Alex Finnie, corroborated these claims, painting a
harrowing picture of isolation and surveillance. “She’s there every day,
all hours of the day,” Finnie said, emphasizing the emotional toll of
such restrictive conditions.
Public Outcry: The #FreeWendy Movement
Much like the #FreeBritney campaign that galvanized public support
for Britney Spears, Wendy’s fans have launched the #FreeWendy movement.
Social media has exploded with calls for justice, with fans labeling
Morrissey as the antagonist in Wendy’s ongoing struggle.
“Wendy Williams is literally being held captive by Sabrina Morrissey.
#FreeWendy,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). Others pointed to
Morrissey’s alleged attempts to control Wendy’s narrative, including
filing lawsuits to block a Lifetime documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams?
A Broken System?
Wendy’s case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile
conservatorships, highlighting systemic flaws. Despite Morrissey filing
court documents describing Wendy as “cognitively impaired and
permanently incapacitated,” the former TV host sounded lucid, coherent,
and impassioned in her interview. Wendy vehemently denied claims of
cognitive decline, even challenging listeners to judge for themselves.
Family Advocacy
Wendy’s son, Kevin Jr., has been vocal about his mother’s situation.
Following her appearance at his college graduation, he described her as
sober and eager to return home. “Isolation is killing her faster than
anything else,” he wrote on Instagram, pleading for her freedom.
What’s Next?
The fight for Wendy Williams’ autonomy continues, with public
sentiment firmly on her side. The #FreeWendy movement is gaining
momentum, pressuring both Morrissey and the legal system to reconsider
the terms of her guardianship.
As Wendy tearfully said during her interview, “This system has
falsified a lot.” Whether the public outcry and legal challenges will
lead to her freedom remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Wendy
Williams is not giving up without a fight.
Sabrina Morrissey’s legacy, for now, remains entangled with this
heartbreaking saga. Whether she’ll be remembered as a protector or an
enabler of abuse depends on the outcome of Wendy’s quest for justice.
A French woman who revealed on television how she had lost her life
savings to scammers posing as Brad Pitt, has faced a wave of online
harassment and mockery, leading the interview to be withdrawn on
Tuesday.
The woman, named as Anne, told the "Seven to Eight"
program on the TF1 channel that she had believed she was in a romantic
relationship with the Hollywood star, leading her to divorce her husband
and transfer $850,000.
The scammers used fake social media and
WhatsApp accounts, as well as AI image-creating technology to send Anne
what appeared to be selfies and messages from Pitt.
To extract
money, they pretended that the 61-year-old actor needed money to pay for
kidney treatment, with his bank accounts supposedly frozen because of divorce proceedings with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie.
Anne,
a 53-year-old interior decorator with mental health problems, spent a
year and half believing she was communicating with Pitt and only
realized she had been scammed when news emerged of Pitt's real-life
relationship with girlfriend Ines de Ramon.
"The story broadcast this Sunday has resulted in a wave of harassment against the witness," TF1 presenter Harry Roselmack wrote on his X account on Tuesday. "For the protection of victims, we have decided to withdraw it from our platforms."
Anne
was said by the channel at the time of its broadcast to have been
suffering from severe depression and received hospital treatment.
The interview, in which she was filmed openly and even shared family photos with reporters, went viral on Monday.
It
sparked a deluge of mocking comments and jokes, but some online critics
accused TF1 of failing to protect a vulnerable individual who might not
have been unaware of the consequences of going public.
Toulouse Football Club tweeted that "Brad told us that he would be at
the stadium on Wednesday" for the team's next match, before withdrawing
the message and apologizing.
Netflix France also posted on social media promoting "four films to see with Brad Pitt (really) for free."
Romance scams
have been a feature of the internet since the advent of email, but
experts say artificial intelligence has increased the risk of identity
theft, hoaxes and fraud online.
"These people deserve hell"
Anne
told TF1 that she was first contacted by someone posing as Pitt's
mother shortly after she began using Instagram for the first time while
on a ski trip with her family in France.
"She told me that her son needed someone like me," Anne explained.
The scammers messaged her again several days afterwards, this time posing as Pitt.
"At
first I said to myself that it was fake, that it's ridiculous," Anne
explained to TF1. "But I'm not used to social media and I didn't really
understand what was happening to me."
"I ask myself why they chose me to do such harm like this?" she
continued. "I've never harmed anyone. These people deserve hell."
More than 64,000 Americans were taken for over $1 billion in romance scams in 2023— double the $500 million just four years earlier, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
In 2023, senior citizens were conned out of roughly $3.4 billion in a range of financial crimes, according to the FBI data. The agency recently warned that
AI has increased the "believability" or criminal scams given that they
"assist with content creation and can correct for human errors that
might otherwise serve as warning signs of fraud."
