A trial to determine who should supervise the financial affairs of a well-known retired judge was postponed to Nov. 8 to allow a lawyer to complete an independent evaluation of the case.
A hearing had been scheduled Monday to settle the issue of whether current state Rep. and former City Councilor Bill Bowles will remain conservator of the estate of former Probate Court Judge Edward F. Casey.
Bowles, with the support of Casey's family, was appointed temporary conservator earlier this year.
But the 85-year-old former judge, who suffers from short-term memory loss, is now opposing Bowles's involvement.
Overshadowing the case is the involvement of City Councilor Kimberly Allard, the judge's paid caretaker, who Bowles charges in a separate lawsuit used undue influence and accepted ownership of a $328,000 house paid for by the jurist. Allard, who is not involved directly in the current litigation, said she has done nothing wrong and has faithfully executed the judge's wishes.
Both Bowles and Allard say they are longtime friends of the judge and have his interests at heart.
In an attempt to get to the bottom of the charges, Judge Frances McIntyre appointed attorney Neal Winston last month as a guardian ad litem to conduct an independent review.
However, the lawyer informed the court late last week that he needs more time to review documents and interview witnesses.
Full Article and Source:
Trial Over Judge's Financial Affairs Postponed
See Also:
Conservatorship Battle Over Former Probate Court Judge
Edward F. Casey
Saturday, September 25, 2010
CT: Accountant Involks 5th Amendment
F. Robert LaSaracina, a Norwich accountant accused of defrauding a family trust fund of $2.2 million and whose office was recently targeted by federal investigators, declined to testify today in the ongoing trial of former Mashantucket Pequot chairman Michael Thomas.
LaSaracina appeared in a New London Superior courtroom with high-profile attorney Hubert Santos and promptly asserted his 5th Amendment privileges against self incrimination.
Santos said the federal investigation, and search warrant served at LaSaracina’s West Town Street office, had changed the circumstances.
LaSaracina had previously testified to his role in dealing with some of Thomas’ finances. Thomas is being sued by Sovereign Bank which claims he defaulted on a multi-million dollar line of credit.
Considering LaSaracina’s new position, Thomas’ attorney Lawrence Rosenthal, asked Judge Joseph Koletsky to strike LaSaracina’s previous testimony. The motion was denied.
Full Article and Source:
Norwich Accountant Invokes 5th Amendment in Thomas Trial
LaSaracina appeared in a New London Superior courtroom with high-profile attorney Hubert Santos and promptly asserted his 5th Amendment privileges against self incrimination.
Santos said the federal investigation, and search warrant served at LaSaracina’s West Town Street office, had changed the circumstances.
LaSaracina had previously testified to his role in dealing with some of Thomas’ finances. Thomas is being sued by Sovereign Bank which claims he defaulted on a multi-million dollar line of credit.
Considering LaSaracina’s new position, Thomas’ attorney Lawrence Rosenthal, asked Judge Joseph Koletsky to strike LaSaracina’s previous testimony. The motion was denied.
Full Article and Source:
Norwich Accountant Invokes 5th Amendment in Thomas Trial
Friday, September 24, 2010
Is Probate Court Injustice So Rare?
Hurrah. The leaders of Connecticut's probate court system are suddenly concerned about Bryan Meccariello's behavior now that an oversight panel has censured the Southington judge for "egregious" mistakes and "evasive and disingenous" testimony.
"While the mishandling of a case is rare, even a single instance is unacceptable," Probate Court Administrator Paul J. Knierim said.
This is more than ironic. Over the last few years I have uncovered a stream of these rare mishandled cases in the murky world of probate court.
From Waterbury to Greenwich to North Haven to East Hartford to Southington, these single instances are piling up. If most of our probate judges are doing a good job - and I don't necessarily disagree -- how is it that a newspaper columnist who spends a few days a month paying attention to probate finds so much injustice?
The problem is that probate operates out of the public eye with too-little scrutiny over the qualifications of judges, who are elected, and the lawyers who work for and appear before the court. This allows for a handful of bad apples to sour the entire reputation of probate court.
As with the latest case in Meccariello's court, the issue again involves a judge who allows a court-appointed conservator to plunder the civil rights of an elderly, sick person. When nobody pays attention, this is what you get.
Full Article and Source:
Is Probate Court Injustice so Rare? I Wonder....
"While the mishandling of a case is rare, even a single instance is unacceptable," Probate Court Administrator Paul J. Knierim said.
This is more than ironic. Over the last few years I have uncovered a stream of these rare mishandled cases in the murky world of probate court.
From Waterbury to Greenwich to North Haven to East Hartford to Southington, these single instances are piling up. If most of our probate judges are doing a good job - and I don't necessarily disagree -- how is it that a newspaper columnist who spends a few days a month paying attention to probate finds so much injustice?
The problem is that probate operates out of the public eye with too-little scrutiny over the qualifications of judges, who are elected, and the lawyers who work for and appear before the court. This allows for a handful of bad apples to sour the entire reputation of probate court.
As with the latest case in Meccariello's court, the issue again involves a judge who allows a court-appointed conservator to plunder the civil rights of an elderly, sick person. When nobody pays attention, this is what you get.
Full Article and Source:
Is Probate Court Injustice so Rare? I Wonder....
CT: Probate Judge Bryan T. Meccariello Censured
The Council on Probate Judicial Conduct unanimously agreed to publicly censure Probate Judge Bryan T. Meccariello for judicial misconduct in his handling of Josephine Smoron's estate.
The five-member council was asked to investigate the matter after Smoron's heir Samuel Manzo complained that her conservator John T. Nugent had disinherited him by creating and funding two trusts giving all her land to three local churches. Meccariello approved the trusts at meeting only he attended on May 12, 2009.
"I'm not shrugging it off and unfortunately the underlying issues have to get resolved," Meccariello said, adding that he is working to mediate a settlement over the land.
Manzo's initial complaint implied a possible conspiracy between Meccariello, Nugent and the town to funnel Smoron's land to local developer Carl Verderame who needs it to build an $18 million sports arena. A purchase agreement between Nugent and Verderame would enrich the churches.
Meccariello said Tuesday's council finding, although harsh, vindicated him on the corruption charges.
Full Article and Source:
Probate Council Censures Meccariello
See Also:
Read the Report From the Council on Probate Conduct
Judge Bryan Meccariello Faces Misconduct Charges
The five-member council was asked to investigate the matter after Smoron's heir Samuel Manzo complained that her conservator John T. Nugent had disinherited him by creating and funding two trusts giving all her land to three local churches. Meccariello approved the trusts at meeting only he attended on May 12, 2009.
"I'm not shrugging it off and unfortunately the underlying issues have to get resolved," Meccariello said, adding that he is working to mediate a settlement over the land.
Manzo's initial complaint implied a possible conspiracy between Meccariello, Nugent and the town to funnel Smoron's land to local developer Carl Verderame who needs it to build an $18 million sports arena. A purchase agreement between Nugent and Verderame would enrich the churches.
Meccariello said Tuesday's council finding, although harsh, vindicated him on the corruption charges.
Full Article and Source:
Probate Council Censures Meccariello
See Also:
Read the Report From the Council on Probate Conduct
Judge Bryan Meccariello Faces Misconduct Charges
Whatever Happened to the Kidds?
In this edition of "Whatever Happened To," Heather Hays updates one of the most asked about stories FOX 4 has ever aired -- an elderly Dallas couple, Michael and Jean Kidd, and their emotional homecoming, after battling the state for their freedom.
Source and Video:
Whatever Happened to the Kidds?
See Also:
Scrutinizing the Guardian
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Former Atty Pieter J. DeJong Charged With Stealing From Client's Estate
A disbarred attorney who lives in Long Valley was arraigned Tuesday on charges of stealing $265,552 between 2005 and 2008 from a deceased woman's estate.
Pieter J. DeJong, 62, was indicted by a Morris County grand jury on Sept. 3 on three theft-related charges that allege he stole between February 2005 and June 2008 money that belonged to the estate of Jane Davis.
DeJong did not speak during the brief arraignment in state Superior Court, Morristown, but defense lawyer Thomas Fischer entered a not guilty plea on DeJong's behalf.
DeJong, who was licensed to practice law in 1972, was disbarred by the state Supreme Court in September 2009 after he failed to respond to allegations of misappropriation of monies. His practice consisted mainly of real estate law.
He previously was reprimanded in 1985 for gross neglect and lack of diligence, and five times between 1992 and 2008 was on the state Supreme Court's list of attorneys ineligible to practice law because he didn't pay an annual attorney fee to the New Jersey Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, according to state records.
Full Article and Source:
Ex-Attorney Pieter DeJong Who Ran Flanders, NJ, Practice Charged with Stealing Over $265,000 From Client's Estate
Pieter J. DeJong, 62, was indicted by a Morris County grand jury on Sept. 3 on three theft-related charges that allege he stole between February 2005 and June 2008 money that belonged to the estate of Jane Davis.
DeJong did not speak during the brief arraignment in state Superior Court, Morristown, but defense lawyer Thomas Fischer entered a not guilty plea on DeJong's behalf.
DeJong, who was licensed to practice law in 1972, was disbarred by the state Supreme Court in September 2009 after he failed to respond to allegations of misappropriation of monies. His practice consisted mainly of real estate law.
He previously was reprimanded in 1985 for gross neglect and lack of diligence, and five times between 1992 and 2008 was on the state Supreme Court's list of attorneys ineligible to practice law because he didn't pay an annual attorney fee to the New Jersey Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, according to state records.
Full Article and Source:
Ex-Attorney Pieter DeJong Who Ran Flanders, NJ, Practice Charged with Stealing Over $265,000 From Client's Estate
NY: Two Charged With Felony Elder Abuse
Two Cappahosic residents are facing felony charges in connection with the life-threatening wounds of an 87-year-old woman who was in their care and later died.
Erick Wilson, 48, and Gigi Garner, 44, have been charged with abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult.
An investigation is continuing into the circumstances surrounding Regina Wynn's care at the hands of Wilson, her nephew, and Garner, a friend of Wilson's, said Gloucester Sheriff's Lt. Scott Little. He declined further comment.
Wilson and Garner will next appear in Gloucester General District Court on Oct. 28.
Full Article and Source:
Care of Elderly Woman Leads to Charges in Gloucester
Erick Wilson, 48, and Gigi Garner, 44, have been charged with abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult.
An investigation is continuing into the circumstances surrounding Regina Wynn's care at the hands of Wilson, her nephew, and Garner, a friend of Wilson's, said Gloucester Sheriff's Lt. Scott Little. He declined further comment.
Wilson and Garner will next appear in Gloucester General District Court on Oct. 28.
Full Article and Source:
Care of Elderly Woman Leads to Charges in Gloucester
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Website: Probate Sharks.com
Our mission is to expose and remedy corruption in the Probate Court of Cook County, Illinois. We assist, educate and enlighten families of the dead, the dying, the disabled and the aged to better understand their rights in order to protect themselves from the excesses of the Probate Court of Cook County. ProbateSharks.com is dedicated to networking the human element of people to people. We join together in reforming the corrupt Cook County Probate Court system.
Source:
ProbateSharks.com
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