Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell is calling it another case of elder abuse as three adults have been removed from a home in Flint.
The sheriff says those people are being treated at an area hospital. This all took place in the 3800 Block of Fleming on the city's north side.
One person was taken into custody. He's being held in the Genesee County Jail.
He's 23-years-old, according to Pickell, and the grandson of Mary Chapman, a woman who is no stranger to these types of allegations.
The man arrested is likely also the son of the Chapman's daughter, who was running a Beard Street facility where one elderly woman died and two other elderly adults were removed last month.
Pickell says they will seek elder abuse related charges against him. The sheriff and his team of investigators say the home is not licensed to be an adult foster care facility.
The three women inside, ages 55, 58 and 67, are receiving treatment, according to the sheriff.
Full Article, Video and Source:
Genesee County Sheriff Finds Another Case of Elder Abuse
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Nursing Home Resident Accused of Felony Battery
A 57-year-old man was arrested on charges that he fondled an elderly woman suffering from dementia in the nursing home they share, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Larry Donneal Evans, of St. Petersburg, was arrested on a felony charge of battery on a person 65 years or older. He is mentally ill, police said, but they did not disclose his exact diagnosis.
A nurse at Pasadena Manor Nursing Home at 1430 Pasadena Ave. caught Evans inside the victim's room.
[T]he victim was not coherent enough to even talk to deputies. She suffers from Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia. Her identity was withheld by the Sheriff's Office because of the nature of the allegation.
Evans is a convicted felon who was first arrested in 1970. He served four years in prison for charges of resisting an officer with violence and possession of cocaine, among others. He was released in 2004.
Full Article and Source:
Pinellas Deputies: Elderly Dementia Patient Fondled in Nursing Home
Larry Donneal Evans, of St. Petersburg, was arrested on a felony charge of battery on a person 65 years or older. He is mentally ill, police said, but they did not disclose his exact diagnosis.
A nurse at Pasadena Manor Nursing Home at 1430 Pasadena Ave. caught Evans inside the victim's room.
[T]he victim was not coherent enough to even talk to deputies. She suffers from Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia. Her identity was withheld by the Sheriff's Office because of the nature of the allegation.
Evans is a convicted felon who was first arrested in 1970. He served four years in prison for charges of resisting an officer with violence and possession of cocaine, among others. He was released in 2004.
Full Article and Source:
Pinellas Deputies: Elderly Dementia Patient Fondled in Nursing Home
Friday, April 23, 2010
Illinois: Cashing in on Frail Patients
‘Horrific’ moneymaking scheme shuttled sick, elderly between nursing homes and hospitals at taxpayer expense.
Dr. Roland Borrasi chuckled as he told three doctors how he used kickbacks and cash bribes to shuttle unsuspecting nursing home residents into Chicago-area hospitals and psychiatric wards.
"Basically, I have a commodity; my commodity is nursing home patients," Borrasi explained.
He didn't know it at the time, but federal agents were secretly recording that meeting.
One of the doctors was wearing a wire as Borrasi matter-of-factly explained the mechanics of patient brokering to physicians in his medical group.
Those recordings, along with court documents and federal investigative reports obtained by the Tribune, describe a web of corruption in which hundreds of thousands of dollars flowed among doctors, nursing home executives and hospital administrators as the facility operators sought to fill their beds with a steady flow of destitute patients.
While taxpayers paid millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicaid and Medicare bills, one Alzheimer's patient was given inappropriate brain radiation treatments, a Borrasi associate told federal agents. A second patient, a disoriented elderly woman, was sent to an acute psychiatric ward after she refused to eat in her nursing home dining hall, another medical professional told federal agents.
"The fact that … greed subordinated the care of elderly and infirm patients who really needed it is horrific at best," federal prosecutors wrote in a court filing earlier this year after Borrasi was sentenced for accepting more than $500,000 in kickbacks to steer vulnerable patients. Prosecutors described "the scope and breadth of the bribes" as "extraordinary."
Full Article and Source:
Cashing in on Frail Patients
Dr. Roland Borrasi chuckled as he told three doctors how he used kickbacks and cash bribes to shuttle unsuspecting nursing home residents into Chicago-area hospitals and psychiatric wards."Basically, I have a commodity; my commodity is nursing home patients," Borrasi explained.
He didn't know it at the time, but federal agents were secretly recording that meeting.
One of the doctors was wearing a wire as Borrasi matter-of-factly explained the mechanics of patient brokering to physicians in his medical group.
Those recordings, along with court documents and federal investigative reports obtained by the Tribune, describe a web of corruption in which hundreds of thousands of dollars flowed among doctors, nursing home executives and hospital administrators as the facility operators sought to fill their beds with a steady flow of destitute patients.
While taxpayers paid millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicaid and Medicare bills, one Alzheimer's patient was given inappropriate brain radiation treatments, a Borrasi associate told federal agents. A second patient, a disoriented elderly woman, was sent to an acute psychiatric ward after she refused to eat in her nursing home dining hall, another medical professional told federal agents.
"The fact that … greed subordinated the care of elderly and infirm patients who really needed it is horrific at best," federal prosecutors wrote in a court filing earlier this year after Borrasi was sentenced for accepting more than $500,000 in kickbacks to steer vulnerable patients. Prosecutors described "the scope and breadth of the bribes" as "extraordinary."
Full Article and Source:
Cashing in on Frail Patients
Abbie Dorn Court Battle Set For May 13
Abbie Dorn always wanted children, and in June 2006 she got her wish -- triplets. But during a difficult birth she suffered severe brain damage that took away her chance to raise them.Now, her parents and former husband are locked in a legal battle over whether Dorn is capable of interacting with her children, and whether they should visit her.
On Tuesday, a judge in Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled that Abbie Dorn's parents have the right to fight for visitation rights on her behalf.
The ruling clears the way for a trial, scheduled for May 13. No matter who prevails, the case is likely to lead to years of appeals that could result in a legal landmark affecting the rights of mentally incapacitated parents.
Full Article, Video, and Source:
Court Fight Waged Over Brain Damaged Mom's Triplets"
Lawsuit #3 Against La Salle County Nursing Home
The third lawsuit stemming from multiple abuse reports last year at the La Salle County Nursing Home was filed in Circuit Court.
The county expects even more legal fallout after the incidents were reported last summer from nearly a dozen female residents who were allegedly sexually assaulted by a male resident with a previous history of such abuse.
The lawsuit, formally presented by Oglesby attorney Gary Peterlin and Peter Ferracuti of Ottawa, alleges staff members did little to protect a now deceased former woman resident from sexual abuse from a fellow resident during the time period of February through May, 2009.
According to court documents, Barbara Snyder of Tonica, executor of the late resident's estate, is asking in excess of $50,000 plus attorney fees and costs from the care facility for failure to protect the 81-year-old woman in the last months of her life. The suit could cost the county up to $100,000.
The attorneys allege the nursing home allowed a known sexually active and aggressive male resident to have contact with the victim and failed to properly care and prevent injuries to the woman. The suit says the victim had a "statutory right to receive treatment and care which was free from abuse or neglect."
Neither La Salle County Board Attorney Troy Holland or Board Chairman Jerry Hicks, D-Marseilles, were available for comment.
Full Article and Source:
Third Lawsuit Filed in Nursing Home Abuse Incidents
The county expects even more legal fallout after the incidents were reported last summer from nearly a dozen female residents who were allegedly sexually assaulted by a male resident with a previous history of such abuse.
The lawsuit, formally presented by Oglesby attorney Gary Peterlin and Peter Ferracuti of Ottawa, alleges staff members did little to protect a now deceased former woman resident from sexual abuse from a fellow resident during the time period of February through May, 2009.
According to court documents, Barbara Snyder of Tonica, executor of the late resident's estate, is asking in excess of $50,000 plus attorney fees and costs from the care facility for failure to protect the 81-year-old woman in the last months of her life. The suit could cost the county up to $100,000.
The attorneys allege the nursing home allowed a known sexually active and aggressive male resident to have contact with the victim and failed to properly care and prevent injuries to the woman. The suit says the victim had a "statutory right to receive treatment and care which was free from abuse or neglect."
Neither La Salle County Board Attorney Troy Holland or Board Chairman Jerry Hicks, D-Marseilles, were available for comment.
Full Article and Source:
Third Lawsuit Filed in Nursing Home Abuse Incidents
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Whistleblower Lawsuits Filed Against Malcomb County Judges
The former administrator of Macomb County Probate Court has filed whistleblower lawsuits, claiming he was fired because he told state investigators about a judge's alleged wrongdoing.
Donald Housey, who was removed as court administrator in January, claims in suits filed recently in federal court and Macomb Circuit Court that Probate Judge Kathryn George and Chief Probate Judge Mark Switalski retaliated against him. Housey's suits claim the retaliation occurred because he cooperated with investigations by the State Court Administrator's Office and the Judicial Tenure Commission into George's handling of cases, along with allegations of her excessive absences from the bench.
"This is a man who's been wronged, and we're trying to right the wrong," Housey's attorney Kathleen Bogas said.
Bogas filed Housey's lawsuits in both U.S. District Court and Macomb Circuit Court. "The federal court doesn't have jurisdiction over probate court, so we filed the whistleblower claims in both courts," she said.
The federal court filing also claims Switalski and George violated Housey's freedom of speech by retaliating against him for cooperating with the state investigations.
Chief Macomb Circuit Court Judge Pro Tem Diane Druzinski called the lawsuits "unfortunate," adding, "The facts will ultimately speak for themselves."
In addition to the alleged firing of Housey for providing information to the Judicial Tenure Commission, the lawsuits claim George retaliated against Housey by "publicly degrading and harassing" and "wrongfully reprimanding" him because he cooperated with a 2008 investigation by the State Court Administrator's Office.
Full Article and Source:
Former Macomb Court Adminstrator Sues Over Firing
Donald Housey, who was removed as court administrator in January, claims in suits filed recently in federal court and Macomb Circuit Court that Probate Judge Kathryn George and Chief Probate Judge Mark Switalski retaliated against him. Housey's suits claim the retaliation occurred because he cooperated with investigations by the State Court Administrator's Office and the Judicial Tenure Commission into George's handling of cases, along with allegations of her excessive absences from the bench.
"This is a man who's been wronged, and we're trying to right the wrong," Housey's attorney Kathleen Bogas said.
Bogas filed Housey's lawsuits in both U.S. District Court and Macomb Circuit Court. "The federal court doesn't have jurisdiction over probate court, so we filed the whistleblower claims in both courts," she said.
The federal court filing also claims Switalski and George violated Housey's freedom of speech by retaliating against him for cooperating with the state investigations.
Chief Macomb Circuit Court Judge Pro Tem Diane Druzinski called the lawsuits "unfortunate," adding, "The facts will ultimately speak for themselves."
In addition to the alleged firing of Housey for providing information to the Judicial Tenure Commission, the lawsuits claim George retaliated against Housey by "publicly degrading and harassing" and "wrongfully reprimanding" him because he cooperated with a 2008 investigation by the State Court Administrator's Office.
Full Article and Source:
Former Macomb Court Adminstrator Sues Over Firing
NASGA Soapbox: 'Guardianship/Conservatorship Victims'
by Advocate Tim LahrmanThere are even victims, both family members or otherwise, who do not even realize they are victims.
In fact, everyone in America is a victim because, when one person's rights are not protected and are readily violated --- then all our rights are at risk of being violated.
Source:
NASGA website: StopGuardianAbuse.org
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Elderly Ex-Judge Objects to Choice of Conservator
Retired Probate Judge Edward F. Casey, who only last month approved naming state Rep. Bill Bowles conservator of his estate, has abruptly reversed course.
The 85-year-old judge, who suffers from dementia, signed court papers objecting to having Bowles oversee his financial affairs.
Now, the legal impasse involving Attleboro City Councilor Kim Allard - the elderly judge's personal caretaker accused by Casey's family of taking advantage of him - will probably have to be resolved by a jurist outside of Bristol County.
Because of the potential for conflict of interest, a court employee said, it is unlikely that a judge of the Bristol County Probate Court will hear the case.
Casey is a former judge in the court and his son, John, is a sitting probate judge. The case would most likely be heard by a judge from another jurisdiction, possibly Plymouth County, the worker said.
Bowles, D-Attleboro, was appointed conservator for the estate of the elder Casey with the support of the judge's family.
Bowles and the family claimed that Allard was taking advantage of her relationship with the elderly judge.
Allard, also a long-time friend of the elder Casey, receives a $600 weekly salary for the judge's care and was given title to a $328,000 house on Slater Street signed over to her by the judge.
The next step will be a pretrial conference, court officials say.
[Casey's] filing was not accompanied by a statement giving reasons for the judge's objections and his abrupt turnabout.
According to a box checked on the appeal form, the elder Casey plans to file an affidavit within 30 days.
Full Article and Source:
Ex-judge Objects to Plans for Oversight
See Also:
Retired Judge Victimized
The 85-year-old judge, who suffers from dementia, signed court papers objecting to having Bowles oversee his financial affairs.
Now, the legal impasse involving Attleboro City Councilor Kim Allard - the elderly judge's personal caretaker accused by Casey's family of taking advantage of him - will probably have to be resolved by a jurist outside of Bristol County.
Because of the potential for conflict of interest, a court employee said, it is unlikely that a judge of the Bristol County Probate Court will hear the case.
Casey is a former judge in the court and his son, John, is a sitting probate judge. The case would most likely be heard by a judge from another jurisdiction, possibly Plymouth County, the worker said.
Bowles, D-Attleboro, was appointed conservator for the estate of the elder Casey with the support of the judge's family.
Bowles and the family claimed that Allard was taking advantage of her relationship with the elderly judge.
Allard, also a long-time friend of the elder Casey, receives a $600 weekly salary for the judge's care and was given title to a $328,000 house on Slater Street signed over to her by the judge.
The next step will be a pretrial conference, court officials say.
[Casey's] filing was not accompanied by a statement giving reasons for the judge's objections and his abrupt turnabout.
According to a box checked on the appeal form, the elder Casey plans to file an affidavit within 30 days.
Full Article and Source:
Ex-judge Objects to Plans for Oversight
See Also:
Retired Judge Victimized
Neglect at Flint Foster Care Facility
A woman who five years ago was banned by the state from operating her adult foster care facility has been tied to at least two other Flint homes now being investigated by authorities.
Genesee County Sheriff Robert J. Pickell said an investigation showed Mary Chapman has connections to a home at 3809 Fleming Road and an adult foster care facility at 1325 Beard Street — both of which had residents removed recently because authorities said they were neglected.
Pickell said his office is continuing to investigate Chapman, assisted by the Genesee County Elder Abuse & Exploitation Prevention Team, but no criminal charges have been issued.
Pickell said Chapman paid her grandson to care for the residents, but the women — ages 55, 58 and 67 — were often left unattended and their medications weren’t administered properly. Pickell said one woman had barricaded herself in an upstairs bedroom and was reluctant to leave the home when police arrived.
The 23-year-old grandson was arrested and later released pending further investigation, Pickell said.
(A Department of Human Services employee walks a woman away from the home at 3809 Fleming Road in Flint on Wednesday. Authorities said the home appears to have connections to an adult foster care facility on Beard Street in Flint, where authorities removed several elderly adults last month. Three women were removed from the Fleming Road home.)
Full Article and Source:
Genesee County Sheriff's Office Continues to Investigate Elderly Care at Flint Homes
Genesee County Sheriff Robert J. Pickell said an investigation showed Mary Chapman has connections to a home at 3809 Fleming Road and an adult foster care facility at 1325 Beard Street — both of which had residents removed recently because authorities said they were neglected.
Pickell said his office is continuing to investigate Chapman, assisted by the Genesee County Elder Abuse & Exploitation Prevention Team, but no criminal charges have been issued.
Pickell said Chapman paid her grandson to care for the residents, but the women — ages 55, 58 and 67 — were often left unattended and their medications weren’t administered properly. Pickell said one woman had barricaded herself in an upstairs bedroom and was reluctant to leave the home when police arrived.
The 23-year-old grandson was arrested and later released pending further investigation, Pickell said.
(A Department of Human Services employee walks a woman away from the home at 3809 Fleming Road in Flint on Wednesday. Authorities said the home appears to have connections to an adult foster care facility on Beard Street in Flint, where authorities removed several elderly adults last month. Three women were removed from the Fleming Road home.)Full Article and Source:
Genesee County Sheriff's Office Continues to Investigate Elderly Care at Flint Homes
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