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No Outside Agency to Help Victims
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This Could Happen to Someone You Love
April 11, 2009This Could Happen to Someone You Love
April 11, 2009See also:
No Outside Agency to Help Victims
This Could Happen to Someone You Love
April 11, 2009No Outside Agency to Help Victims
April 8, 2009Imagine having your whole life put into the hands of a stranger who can take away your freedom to choose from where you live to how you spend your money, and if you disagree on how they’re handling things, you have no outside agency to complain to.
Seven’s investigative reporter Carmel Cafiero is on the case.
95-year-old Lucille Gittens was forced to leave the home she had lived in with her son and his family for thirty years.
Sybil Gittens: “I felt helpless, I couldn’t help her, I couldn’t do anything.”
Tecia Gittens: “It was very disturbing. My grandmother was like my best friend.”
The court stepped in and appointed a guardian after a family disagreement over the mother’s finances.
Keith Gittens: “Ninety percent of families have family squabbles, I’m sure you’re aware of that, but that doesn’t mean it has to reach this level of making a drastic decision like this for no reason.”
He says first the guardian took over his mother’s estate and eventually took her out of her home and put her in a group facility.
Keith Gittens: “The legal system is so complex that you can spend all your time and all your money and get nowhere.”
Keith says he could find no one to independently to investigate his concerns about what was happening with his mother.
Keith Gittens: “There’s too much power given in this guardianship program, there’s no checks and balances really.”
Avril Schuckman says her mother had a picture-perfect life, but her last hours were a nightmare.
Avril Schuckman: “My mother suffered desperately. I think it was the most heinous crime.”
Avril says her mother had a do not resuscitate order which her guardian ignored. In fact, the South Florida guardian did not call Avril in Tampa and tell her her mother was dying until four days after she was put on life support.
Avril Schuckman: “She lasted another twenty hours gasping for air. It was the most awful death I’ve ever seen, it was just tragic.”
Avril thought the guardian should have been investigated, but she could find no independent agency to hear her concerns.
Keith Gittens: “I think that the legislature should look at the entire guardianship program and revamp it.”
Avril and Keith are not alone. Nationwide, so many families are upset about the treatment of loved ones they’ve organized.
Full Article and Source:
Carmel on the Case – Guardian
Reported by:
Carmel Cafiero
Producer:
Cheryl Simmons
Contact
csimmons@wsvn.com
IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR CARMEL TO INVESTIGATE:
Miami-Dade: 305-627-CLUE
Broward: 954-921-CLUE
E-mail: clue@wsvn.com
Ten Years of Financial Abuse
April 2, 2009
Leroy Newton, Erna’s only child, is an investment banker in California. Erna trusted his knowledge and advice. The next thing she knew, her house, her stocks and all her worldly goods were the property of her son. Far before her death.
She appealed his creation of a trust that kept her from accessing her own money, and she won.
She changed her house back into her name, and waited for her other assets to be returned.
Sadly, there was a lack of follow through by the Clackamas County Oregon lower court, “administrative neglect” it’s called. The court documents from Erna’s “win” were never filed, and therefore left her son a window to finalize his takeover.
When Erna learned of this mishap, she appealed to the court to uphold the decision in her favor, and she was denied. Next, a trustee was assigned to Erna’s inheritance without her ever being declared “Incompetent”.
Eight years later, now recovering from a stroke, Erna has spent herself into debt defending her right to her own property. Her son has fought her all the way.
Finally, in November of 2007, the Oregon State of Appeals court agreed to allow the documents to be submitted, and the case revisited.
Erna filed the paperwork in January 2008 and her son’s attorney drug his feet in responding, receiving two extensions after defaulting, and even missing the extension deadline by three days. His paperwork was accepted, nonetheless.
Erna’s a survivor, and she’s vowed not to let her son get the best of her. She intends to see justice served.
Full Article and Source:
Elderly Woman Suffering Ten Years of Financial Abuse Looks for Justice
Ten Years of Financial Abuse
April 2, 2009
Leroy Newton, Erna’s only child, is an investment banker in California. Erna trusted his knowledge and advice. The next thing she knew, her house, her stocks and all her worldly goods were the property of her son. Far before her death.
She appealed his creation of a trust that kept her from accessing her own money, and she won.
She changed her house back into her name, and waited for her other assets to be returned.
Sadly, there was a lack of follow through by the Clackamas County Oregon lower court, “administrative neglect” it’s called. The court documents from Erna’s “win” were never filed, and therefore left her son a window to finalize his takeover.
When Erna learned of this mishap, she appealed to the court to uphold the decision in her favor, and she was denied. Next, a trustee was assigned to Erna’s inheritance without her ever being declared “Incompetent”.
Eight years later, now recovering from a stroke, Erna has spent herself into debt defending her right to her own property. Her son has fought her all the way.
Finally, in November of 2007, the Oregon State of Appeals court agreed to allow the documents to be submitted, and the case revisited.
Erna filed the paperwork in January 2008 and her son’s attorney drug his feet in responding, receiving two extensions after defaulting, and even missing the extension deadline by three days. His paperwork was accepted, nonetheless.
Erna’s a survivor, and she’s vowed not to let her son get the best of her. She intends to see justice served.
Full Article and Source:
Elderly Woman Suffering Ten Years of Financial Abuse Looks for Justice
Ten Years of Financial Abuse
April 2, 2009Leroy Newton, Erna’s only child, is an investment banker in California. Erna trusted his knowledge and advice. The next thing she knew, her house, her stocks and all her worldly goods were the property of her son. Far before her death.
She appealed his creation of a trust that kept her from accessing her own money, and she won.
She changed her house back into her name, and waited for her other assets to be returned.
Sadly, there was a lack of follow through by the Clackamas County Oregon lower court, “administrative neglect” it’s called. The court documents from Erna’s “win” were never filed, and therefore left her son a window to finalize his takeover.
When Erna learned of this mishap, she appealed to the court to uphold the decision in her favor, and she was denied. Next, a trustee was assigned to Erna’s inheritance without her ever being declared “Incompetent”.
Eight years later, now recovering from a stroke, Erna has spent herself into debt defending her right to her own property. Her son has fought her all the way.
Finally, in November of 2007, the Oregon State of Appeals court agreed to allow the documents to be submitted, and the case revisited.
Erna filed the paperwork in January 2008 and her son’s attorney drug his feet in responding, receiving two extensions after defaulting, and even missing the extension deadline by three days. His paperwork was accepted, nonetheless.
Erna’s a survivor, and she’s vowed not to let her son get the best of her. She intends to see justice served.
Full Article and Source:
Elderly Woman Suffering Ten Years of Financial Abuse Looks for Justice
Children Taken Away From Mother
March 13, 2009Protest by Suffolk County New York residents against order issued by Judge Bivona who ordered that two girls be taken from their home against their will to live with their father.
The protesters fear that the children will be subjected to drugging and indoctrination by a company called the Rachel Foundation in Texas.
During the proceedings, Judge Bivona had issued a gag order which prevented anyone from telling the girls anything about what was going to happen to them. When the final order was issued, two detectives went to their home and took them away without prior warning. The girls are 9 and 10 years old.
Protesters believe that there is corruption in the courts and that the father of the children is a wealthy attorney who has familiar relationships with attorneys and judges in the courthouse. Protesters state that children need to be heard and that cameras need to be in the court rooms in New York and that behind door conferences lead to deals made by attorneys that benefit themselves and that are not in the best interest of the children.
They also believe that all court proceedings must be open to the public to prevent corruption. and cases should not be sealed.
Children Taken Away From Mother
March 13, 2009Protest by Suffolk County New York residents against order issued by Judge Bivona who ordered that two girls be taken from their home against their will to live with their father.
The protesters fear that the children will be subjected to drugging and indoctrination by a company called the Rachel Foundation in Texas.
During the proceedings, Judge Bivona had issued a gag order which prevented anyone from telling the girls anything about what was going to happen to them. When the final order was issued, two detectives went to their home and took them away without prior warning. The girls are 9 and 10 years old.
Protesters believe that there is corruption in the courts and that the father of the children is a wealthy attorney who has familiar relationships with attorneys and judges in the courthouse. Protesters state that children need to be heard and that cameras need to be in the court rooms in New York and that behind door conferences lead to deals made by attorneys that benefit themselves and that are not in the best interest of the children.
They also believe that all court proceedings must be open to the public to prevent corruption. and cases should not be sealed.
National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse 