Registered Guardian Forcing ECT

Say “no” to mental health system censorship!

Human Rights Alert: Involuntary Electroshock
by David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International
http://www.mindfreedom.org/

The past Wednesday morning after the historic USA election what were you doing?

I know what Ray Sandford, 54, was doing.

Each and every Wednesday, early in the morning, staff shows up at Ray’s sheltered living home called Victory House in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, adjacent to Minneapolis.

Staff escorts Ray the 15 miles to Mercy Hospital.

There, Ray is given another of his weekly electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments, also known as electroshock. All against his will. On an outpatient basis.

And it’s been going on for months.

Ray says the weekly forced electroshock “scary as hell.” He absolutely opposes having the procedure. He says it’s causing poor memory for names such as of friends and his favorite niece. “What am I supposed to do, run away?” Instead, Ray phoned his local library’s reference desk to ask about human rights groups, and the librarian referred him to MindFreedom International.

Ray called me at our office here at MindFreedom International about two weeks ago. At first I wasn’t sure I believed him.

Of course, MindFreedom International has documented proven cases of electroshock against the expressed wishes of the subject all over the world, including in the USA. MindFreedom succeeded in having the United Nations World Health Organization call in writing for a global ban on all involuntary electroshock.

But this is the first time I’ve been on the phone with someone getting court-ordered forced shock while living out in the community, on an outpatient basis.

This is the ultimate double whammy.

I confirmed Ray’s story by calling two staff at Victory House as well as his court-appointed conservator, Tonya Wilhelm of Luthern Support Services of Minnesota.

Ms. Wilhelm said, “We are following the letter of the law.” She said the State of Minnesota had secured a variety of court orders that require Ray to have forced electroshock against his expressed wishes. Ms. Wilehlm says it’s all legal and she can’t do anything about it.

Krista Erickson, chair of MindFreedom’s Shield Campaign, sees it differently. “This is terrible. This is a serious human rights violation that should stop. I hope MindFreedom members and supporters speak out. Even if Minnesota is following the letter of the current law, the law ought to be changed. And Ray has not had the legal power to appeal to higher courts.”

I pointed out to Conservator Wilhelm that the public — when they find out about forced electroshock — is passionately opposed to their taxpayer money being used to force such brutality on citizens. Ms. Wilhelm did let slip that what is happening to Ray — involuntary outpatient electroshock — is not that uncommon in Minnesota.

But when Ms. Wilhelm found out we at MindFreedom are issuing one of our public human rights alert to you and others at Ray’s repeated request, she said something amazing.

Ms. Wilhelm claimed she had a legal right to stop us!

Ms. Wilhelm told me, “Only I can give you permission legally to say anything publicly about this.”

I pointed out we are not a medical facility, and that if she falsely claims we’re doing anything illegal then this is defamation. Which really is illegal.

Ms. Wilhelm laughed loudly in the phone, said “let our lawyers talk,” and hung up on me. I hope she hung up and read the First Amendment.

Let’s disobey Ms. Wilhelm!

Spread Ray’s alert far and wide!

Speak out against this electrical torture, now!

Because… Remember…

If it’s Wednesday morning, then Ray Sandford is being led from his home — which is supposed to be his castle — to get another weekly forced procedure that can wipe out memories and cause brain damage.

Mind Your Freedom!

Disobey Ray’s conservator now!

Forward this alert to all appropriate places on and off the Internet, IMMEDIATELY!

And take the below actions.

Thank you!
David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International

* * * ACTION * * * ACTION * * * ACTION * * *

E-mail your firm but polite message to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
E-mail address:

tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us
Or use this handy web form:

http://www.governor.state.mn.us/contacts/Forms/askthegovernor/index.htm
or this link:

http://tinyurl.com/mn-governor

* * * ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO SUPPORT RAY! * * *

1) E-mail a complaint to Luthern Social Services of Minnesota (LSSMN) about Ray’s conservator
Use LSSMN’s web page:

http://www.lssmn.org/contact_lss.htm
Or phone Luthern Social Services at: 218-726-4888

You can copy your message to headquarters of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA):

info@elca.org

2) E-mail a complaint to Allina Hospital and Clinics, owner of Mercy Hospital
Use this web page:
http://www.allina.com/ahs/help.nsf/page/contact
Or phone: (763) 236-6000

3) Ray is open to visitors and supportive postal mail:
Ray Sandford
Victory House
4427 Monroe St.
Columbia Heights, MN 55421-2880 USA

Source: If it’s Wednesday, then Ray Sandford is Getting Escorted from His Home for Another Forced Electroshock – Minnesota Resident Gets Involuntary Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) On A Weekly Ongoing *Outpatient* Basis

See also:
Forced ECT is Wrong in Minnesota, World

More on Electroshock: Click Here

Tonya Wilhelm is a registered guardian at Center For Guardianship Certification

>Registered Guardian Forcing ECT

>

Say “no” to mental health system censorship!

Human Rights Alert: Involuntary Electroshock
by David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International
http://www.mindfreedom.org/

The past Wednesday morning after the historic USA election what were you doing?

I know what Ray Sandford, 54, was doing.

Each and every Wednesday, early in the morning, staff shows up at Ray’s sheltered living home called Victory House in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, adjacent to Minneapolis.

Staff escorts Ray the 15 miles to Mercy Hospital.

There, Ray is given another of his weekly electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments, also known as electroshock. All against his will. On an outpatient basis.

And it’s been going on for months.

Ray says the weekly forced electroshock “scary as hell.” He absolutely opposes having the procedure. He says it’s causing poor memory for names such as of friends and his favorite niece. “What am I supposed to do, run away?” Instead, Ray phoned his local library’s reference desk to ask about human rights groups, and the librarian referred him to MindFreedom International.

Ray called me at our office here at MindFreedom International about two weeks ago. At first I wasn’t sure I believed him.

Of course, MindFreedom International has documented proven cases of electroshock against the expressed wishes of the subject all over the world, including in the USA. MindFreedom succeeded in having the United Nations World Health Organization call in writing for a global ban on all involuntary electroshock.

But this is the first time I’ve been on the phone with someone getting court-ordered forced shock while living out in the community, on an outpatient basis.

This is the ultimate double whammy.

I confirmed Ray’s story by calling two staff at Victory House as well as his court-appointed conservator, Tonya Wilhelm of Luthern Support Services of Minnesota.

Ms. Wilhelm said, “We are following the letter of the law.” She said the State of Minnesota had secured a variety of court orders that require Ray to have forced electroshock against his expressed wishes. Ms. Wilehlm says it’s all legal and she can’t do anything about it.

Krista Erickson, chair of MindFreedom’s Shield Campaign, sees it differently. “This is terrible. This is a serious human rights violation that should stop. I hope MindFreedom members and supporters speak out. Even if Minnesota is following the letter of the current law, the law ought to be changed. And Ray has not had the legal power to appeal to higher courts.”

I pointed out to Conservator Wilhelm that the public — when they find out about forced electroshock — is passionately opposed to their taxpayer money being used to force such brutality on citizens. Ms. Wilhelm did let slip that what is happening to Ray — involuntary outpatient electroshock — is not that uncommon in Minnesota.

But when Ms. Wilhelm found out we at MindFreedom are issuing one of our public human rights alert to you and others at Ray’s repeated request, she said something amazing.

Ms. Wilhelm claimed she had a legal right to stop us!

Ms. Wilhelm told me, “Only I can give you permission legally to say anything publicly about this.”

I pointed out we are not a medical facility, and that if she falsely claims we’re doing anything illegal then this is defamation. Which really is illegal.

Ms. Wilhelm laughed loudly in the phone, said “let our lawyers talk,” and hung up on me. I hope she hung up and read the First Amendment.

Let’s disobey Ms. Wilhelm!

Spread Ray’s alert far and wide!

Speak out against this electrical torture, now!

Because… Remember…

If it’s Wednesday morning, then Ray Sandford is being led from his home — which is supposed to be his castle — to get another weekly forced procedure that can wipe out memories and cause brain damage.

Mind Your Freedom!

Disobey Ray’s conservator now!

Forward this alert to all appropriate places on and off the Internet, IMMEDIATELY!

And take the below actions.

Thank you!
David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International

* * * ACTION * * * ACTION * * * ACTION * * *

E-mail your firm but polite message to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
E-mail address:

tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us
Or use this handy web form:

http://www.governor.state.mn.us/contacts/Forms/askthegovernor/index.htm
or this link:

http://tinyurl.com/mn-governor

* * * ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO SUPPORT RAY! * * *

1) E-mail a complaint to Luthern Social Services of Minnesota (LSSMN) about Ray’s conservator
Use LSSMN’s web page:

http://www.lssmn.org/contact_lss.htm
Or phone Luthern Social Services at: 218-726-4888

You can copy your message to headquarters of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA):

info@elca.org

2) E-mail a complaint to Allina Hospital and Clinics, owner of Mercy Hospital
Use this web page:
http://www.allina.com/ahs/help.nsf/page/contact
Or phone: (763) 236-6000

3) Ray is open to visitors and supportive postal mail:
Ray Sandford
Victory House
4427 Monroe St.
Columbia Heights, MN 55421-2880 USA

Source: If it’s Wednesday, then Ray Sandford is Getting Escorted from His Home for Another Forced Electroshock – Minnesota Resident Gets Involuntary Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) On A Weekly Ongoing *Outpatient* Basis

See also:
Forced ECT is Wrong in Minnesota, World

More on Electroshock: Click Here

Tonya Wilhelm is a registered guardian at Center For Guardianship Certification

Guardianship Services

In the case of Loren Stamm, the Court of Appeals reversed and remanded due to the erroneous admission of guardian ad litem testimony. Mr. Stamm was released from guardianship a short time thereafter. He continues to live with his wife in Kenmore, Washington.
Source:
Margaret Dore – Briefs

It is undisputed that GSS submitted a false statement under oath to to obtain the discharge of Mr. Stamm’s attorney. In Kuvara, the attorney who engaged in similar conduct, was disbarred. GSS committed other breaches of duty, many of which are established as a matter of law. GSS’s fees should be disallowed in their entirety. Otherwise, the wrong message will be sent.
Source:
Stamm v. Guardianship Services of Seattle – Reply Brief

In order to send a proper message to GSS and other guardians, GSS’s fees should be disallowed in their entirety and remanded for trial.
Source:
Margaret Dore-Opening Brief

Guardianship Services of Seattle (GSS) has also been mentioned in a news article:
A millionaire’s guardian: many hats, many questions

And on a website: Guardian Failure

Ed Gardner, its financial director, and Guardianship Services of Seattle (GSS) are registered with Center for Guardianship Certification and with National Guardianship Association

See also:
Regulating Guardians

>Guardianship Services

>

In the case of Loren Stamm, the Court of Appeals reversed and remanded due to the erroneous admission of guardian ad litem testimony. Mr. Stamm was released from guardianship a short time thereafter. He continues to live with his wife in Kenmore, Washington.
Source:
Margaret Dore – Briefs

It is undisputed that GSS submitted a false statement under oath to to obtain the discharge of Mr. Stamm’s attorney. In Kuvara, the attorney who engaged in similar conduct, was disbarred. GSS committed other breaches of duty, many of which are established as a matter of law. GSS’s fees should be disallowed in their entirety. Otherwise, the wrong message will be sent.
Source:
Stamm v. Guardianship Services of Seattle – Reply Brief

In order to send a proper message to GSS and other guardians, GSS’s fees should be disallowed in their entirety and remanded for trial.
Source:
Margaret Dore-Opening Brief

Guardianship Services of Seattle (GSS) has also been mentioned in a news article:
A millionaire’s guardian: many hats, many questions

And on a website: Guardian Failure

Ed Gardner, its financial director, and Guardianship Services of Seattle (GSS) are registered with Center for Guardianship Certification and with National Guardianship Association

See also:
Regulating Guardians

Regulating Guardians

If family or friends are not available, state probate courts appoint guardians — also called conservators and fiduciaries in some states — to protect incapacitated seniors and dependant adults from self-neglect, predators and scam artists. But in some cases, society’s most vulnerable adults are left in the hands of unscrupulous or incompetent guardians, and until recently, states were not looking over their shoulders.

To address this growing potential for fraud, theft and abuse:

* California joined six other states — Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Texas and Washington — in regulating professional guardians appointed by courts to manage the finances and day-to-day needs of those who can no longer help themselves.

* All 50 states have adopted laws governing how and when courts appoint guardians and every state except Nebraska provides public guardians for those who cannot afford to pay.

* Some states also allow payment of guardianship fees through Medicaid, the federal and state health program for the poor.

* Idaho and North Carolina — have legislative committees that are considering industry regulation.

* Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah are revamping their guardianship laws and may include some form of certification and oversight.

In all, Arizona has licensed more than 300 fiduciaries, Florida has certified 137 guardians, Texas has certified 241, Nevada 86, Alaska has licensed 49 and California has tested 161 conservators for licensing, according to Sally Hurme of the Center for Guardianship Certification, who is working with states to develop training and certification programs.

Full Article and Source:
States move to regulate senior guardians

>Regulating Guardians

>

If family or friends are not available, state probate courts appoint guardians — also called conservators and fiduciaries in some states — to protect incapacitated seniors and dependant adults from self-neglect, predators and scam artists. But in some cases, society’s most vulnerable adults are left in the hands of unscrupulous or incompetent guardians, and until recently, states were not looking over their shoulders.

To address this growing potential for fraud, theft and abuse:

* California joined six other states — Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Texas and Washington — in regulating professional guardians appointed by courts to manage the finances and day-to-day needs of those who can no longer help themselves.

* All 50 states have adopted laws governing how and when courts appoint guardians and every state except Nebraska provides public guardians for those who cannot afford to pay.

* Some states also allow payment of guardianship fees through Medicaid, the federal and state health program for the poor.

* Idaho and North Carolina — have legislative committees that are considering industry regulation.

* Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah are revamping their guardianship laws and may include some form of certification and oversight.

In all, Arizona has licensed more than 300 fiduciaries, Florida has certified 137 guardians, Texas has certified 241, Nevada 86, Alaska has licensed 49 and California has tested 161 conservators for licensing, according to Sally Hurme of the Center for Guardianship Certification, who is working with states to develop training and certification programs.

Full Article and Source:
States move to regulate senior guardians

A Costly Conservatorship – His Life

My son, Stephen Price, Jr., died at age 19, a victim of a guardianship/conservatorship abuse. A severe brain injury caused by hospital neglect at age 9 seemed to be the worst that could possibly happen, —until a few years later, at a custody hearing between the parents, the San Bernadino County Superior Court System turned Stevie’s life over to private professional parasite (guardian) Melodie Z. Scott and the gang of attorneys she works with.

At this custody hearing, although Stevie’s trust fund ($4mil settlement) was mandated to provide legal representation for him if needed, the court insisted on appointing an attorney of their choosing, who immediately suggested the parents nominate a friend of his as temporary guardian during the custody proceedings. When we declined, this attorney and his friend inundated the court with lies, innuendo, and accusation, apparently justifying the temporary appointment of this guardian (who, it turns out, is also the chief client of said attorney and firm) while we tried to sort out and disprove the lies.

I was able to show that both attorney and guardian had deliberately lied by the time a hearing was held for permanent guardianship; however, this didn’t seem to carry any weight against the exorbitant amounts of my son’s money attorneys and guardian were allowed to put on their case.

For reasons unclear to me, the hearing was held in a neighboring city; Chino, where a traffic court judge’s calendar was cleared so he could hear Stevie’s case. This judge, (who within a year of the hearing was censured for 9 counts of judicial misconduct and then was retired for “psychological reasons”) found that Stevie needed a guardian, even tho he had been thriving physically, financially and psychologically without one.

For the next few years, I battled almost daily with this crew of predatory parasites; going thru 3 attorneys and contacting every justice, news, political and professional entity I could find, to no avail. I was successful in preventing Ms. Scott and crew from placing Stevie in a facility– keeping him at home and remaining his primary caregiver despite their efforts; but I was unable to prevent the decimation of his health care and his finances.

In one arrogant display of power, Ms. Scott got a court order to give Stevie a tracheotomy against the advice, testimony and objections of his parents, nurses and primary doctor of 6 years. Stevie never recovered from the needless tracheotomy and died a year and a half later with no explanation.

Ms. Scott and crew had gone thru well over $2 mil – leaving not even enough to pay his bills. As probate administrator and successor conservator, I was able to confirm my suspicions about the fraud and misuse of his money; Stevie died in debt. Too bad there’s not someone to complain to.

As the LA Times pointed out in the four part editorial, Guardians For Profit , that features Melodie Scott:

Professional conservators wield enormous power over people deemed too infirm to look after themselves. They choose their doctors, control their bank accounts and decide where they will live — even who can visit them.

Probate courts, which appoint conservators, are supposed to monitor their conduct, scrutinize their financial reports and fine or remove those who misuse their authority.

The courts have failed dismally in this vital role.

Melodie Scott is registered with Center For Guardianship Certification

A Costly Conservatorship – His Life

My son, Stephen Price, Jr., died at age 19, a victim of a guardianship/conservatorship abuse. A severe brain injury caused by hospital neglect at age 9 seemed to be the worst that could possibly happen, —until a few years later, at a custody hearing between the parents, the San Bernadino County Superior Court System turned Stevie’s life over to private professional parasite (guardian) Melodie Z. Scott and the gang of attorneys she works with.

At this custody hearing, although Stevie’s trust fund ($4mil settlement) was mandated to provide legal representation for him if needed, the court insisted on appointing an attorney of their choosing, who immediately suggested the parents nominate a friend of his as temporary guardian during the custody proceedings. When we declined, this attorney and his friend inundated the court with lies, innuendo, and accusation, apparently justifying the temporary appointment of this guardian (who, it turns out, is also the chief client of said attorney and firm) while we tried to sort out and disprove the lies.

I was able to show that both attorney and guardian had deliberately lied by the time a hearing was held for permanent guardianship; however, this didn’t seem to carry any weight against the exorbitant amounts of my son’s money attorneys and guardian were allowed to put on their case.

For reasons unclear to me, the hearing was held in a neighboring city; Chino, where a traffic court judge’s calendar was cleared so he could hear Stevie’s case. This judge, (who within a year of the hearing was censured for 9 counts of judicial misconduct and then was retired for “psychological reasons”) found that Stevie needed a guardian, even tho he had been thriving physically, financially and psychologically without one.

For the next few years, I battled almost daily with this crew of predatory parasites; going thru 3 attorneys and contacting every justice, news, political and professional entity I could find, to no avail. I was successful in preventing Ms. Scott and crew from placing Stevie in a facility– keeping him at home and remaining his primary caregiver despite their efforts; but I was unable to prevent the decimation of his health care and his finances.

In one arrogant display of power, Ms. Scott got a court order to give Stevie a tracheotomy against the advice, testimony and objections of his parents, nurses and primary doctor of 6 years. Stevie never recovered from the needless tracheotomy and died a year and a half later with no explanation.

Ms. Scott and crew had gone thru well over $2 mil – leaving not even enough to pay his bills. As probate administrator and successor conservator, I was able to confirm my suspicions about the fraud and misuse of his money; Stevie died in debt. Too bad there’s not someone to complain to.

As the LA Times pointed out in the four part editorial, Guardians For Profit , that features Melodie Scott:

Professional conservators wield enormous power over people deemed too infirm to look after themselves. They choose their doctors, control their bank accounts and decide where they will live — even who can visit them.

Probate courts, which appoint conservators, are supposed to monitor their conduct, scrutinize their financial reports and fine or remove those who misuse their authority.

The courts have failed dismally in this vital role.

Melodie Scott is registered with Center For Guardianship Certification

>A Costly Conservatorship – His Life

>

My son, Stephen Price, Jr., died at age 19, a victim of a guardianship/conservatorship abuse. A severe brain injury caused by hospital neglect at age 9 seemed to be the worst that could possibly happen, —until a few years later, at a custody hearing between the parents, the San Bernadino County Superior Court System turned Stevie’s life over to private professional parasite (guardian) Melodie Z. Scott and the gang of attorneys she works with.

At this custody hearing, although Stevie’s trust fund ($4mil settlement) was mandated to provide legal representation for him if needed, the court insisted on appointing an attorney of their choosing, who immediately suggested the parents nominate a friend of his as temporary guardian during the custody proceedings. When we declined, this attorney and his friend inundated the court with lies, innuendo, and accusation, apparently justifying the temporary appointment of this guardian (who, it turns out, is also the chief client of said attorney and firm) while we tried to sort out and disprove the lies.

I was able to show that both attorney and guardian had deliberately lied by the time a hearing was held for permanent guardianship; however, this didn’t seem to carry any weight against the exorbitant amounts of my son’s money attorneys and guardian were allowed to put on their case.

For reasons unclear to me, the hearing was held in a neighboring city; Chino, where a traffic court judge’s calendar was cleared so he could hear Stevie’s case. This judge, (who within a year of the hearing was censured for 9 counts of judicial misconduct and then was retired for “psychological reasons”) found that Stevie needed a guardian, even tho he had been thriving physically, financially and psychologically without one.

For the next few years, I battled almost daily with this crew of predatory parasites; going thru 3 attorneys and contacting every justice, news, political and professional entity I could find, to no avail. I was successful in preventing Ms. Scott and crew from placing Stevie in a facility– keeping him at home and remaining his primary caregiver despite their efforts; but I was unable to prevent the decimation of his health care and his finances.

In one arrogant display of power, Ms. Scott got a court order to give Stevie a tracheotomy against the advice, testimony and objections of his parents, nurses and primary doctor of 6 years. Stevie never recovered from the needless tracheotomy and died a year and a half later with no explanation.

Ms. Scott and crew had gone thru well over $2 mil – leaving not even enough to pay his bills. As probate administrator and successor conservator, I was able to confirm my suspicions about the fraud and misuse of his money; Stevie died in debt. Too bad there’s not someone to complain to.

As the LA Times pointed out in the four part editorial, Guardians For Profit , that features Melodie Scott:

Professional conservators wield enormous power over people deemed too infirm to look after themselves. They choose their doctors, control their bank accounts and decide where they will live — even who can visit them.

Probate courts, which appoint conservators, are supposed to monitor their conduct, scrutinize their financial reports and fine or remove those who misuse their authority.

The courts have failed dismally in this vital role.

Melodie Scott is registered with Center For Guardianship Certification

Harris County Probate

For years families bogged down in Harris County probate courts have accused judges of bleeding estates of tens of thousands of dollars to pay high-priced lawyers for unnecessary work.

A Houston appeals court ruled that probate Judge Mike Wood improperly awarded what may turn out to be more than $2 million in fees to a trustee and his lawyers over the objections of a wealthy father who set up three trusts for his sons.

According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, the appeals court was brutal in its 46-page opinion. It ruled for a variety of reasons that Wood was wrong to grant a judgment of $1.9 million against Alpert while ordering the trusts to pay about $500,000 in fees to Crain Caton for representing Riley.

Among the errors:

•Wood was wrong to rule as a matter of law that Riley was actually the trustee of three trusts Alpert set up for his sons. Riley clearly was not the trustee of one of them, the court ruled. In the other two, the question should have been put to a jury because some evidence was against Riley.

•Wood was wrong to rule that Alpert had breached his duty to the trust. As the person who put the money into the trust, the court said, he owed no duty as to how the trust was managed. This is a widely acknowledged principle of trusts. Donors put money into a trust and give up control of it partly so they will not be liable for how it is handled.

•Riley accused Alpert of selling some stock in one of his companies to the trust to take a tax loss, but thereby caused a tax liability to the trust. The appeals court ruled, however, that the law doesn’t even allow Riley to bring the claim. The reason is that only Riley, not Alpert, had the power to buy the stock from Alpert, and “the trustee alone is responsible as a fiduciary if he allows (Alpert) to mismanage trust property to the detriment of the trust.”
This, again, is something a probate judge should know.

•The appeals court ruled that Judge Wood also erred in overruling the jury’s finding that Riley had violated his duties to the trust and the two sons in a variety of ways. In other words the judge, not the jury, “convicted” the wrong man.

•The appeals court ruled Judge Wood awarded Riley tens of thousands of dollars in fees from the trusts in clear violation of language in them saying the trustee would earn no fees.

•The appeals court said the lower court should, based on its ruling, consider making Riley pay the legal fees for Alpert and his sons.

•The court ruled that even if a jury decides Riley was the legitimate trustee for two of the trusts, a new state law that went into effect in 2005 prohibits a trustee from pressing any lawsuit over the objections of the beneficiaries.

“All in all, the decision, without specifically saying so, describes Judge Wood as brazenly ignoring the law while liberally doling out the trusts’ money to high-paid lawyers.”

Source:
Judge Wood slapped again

See also:
Probate Showdown

Judge Mike Wood and Harris County Probate Court #2 is registered with the National Guardianship Association