Marked for Destruction

There's a link to her site at the bottom of the page.  They put Adele Fraulen's "true story" in a Boston Legal episode and I watched it last night. 

This is how Alan Shore (James Spader) describes guardians/conservators on the show:

“Many conservators are perfectly qualified, but the lesser ones are akin to the jackal. They sniff around hospital corridors hunting for senior citizens with no family ties. When they corner one the conservator goes before a judge with an emergency motion, the judge, overburdened with caseloads quickly grants them a Power of Attorney, and suddenly they sink their teeth into that senior’s life. They seize their assets; strip away all their decision making powers, then run up charges feeding off the estates until the bones have been picked clean.”

OMG!  Very sad but very true!  Then later, after the court orders a psychiatrist to examine Adele, they meet outside the courtroom and Alan says to the guardian:

"Mr Wharton, unfortunately what may seem like a small victory is really just postponing the inevitable. We will prevail and since I know you’re anxious to get home and rake your shag carpet, why don’t you just let this one go?"

The guardian replies “Well, mostly because I’m mad. And for Adele’s sake I’m willing to stay in this for the long haul. I’ll hire my own high-price attorney’s at five hundred dollars an hour. And you know where that money comes from don’t you? Adele’s bank account. That’s what it’s there for. To insure the well-being of my client. But don’t worry, I’ll eventually stop battling you. Once all the money’s run out.”

Brought back memories of Josh Mitzen screaming in my ear, saying that I could fight him in court for Ludwig.  He insinuated that he wouldn't spare a dime of Ludwig's money to force himself on a man that never wanted him in his life in the first place.

Then on the show they talk about how they're selling Adele's home in order to pay the public guardian fees, etc., etc.  James Spader ends up hog tying the guardian and making him feel exactly how their wards feel.  Needless to say, it was a very happy ending.  Adele got free of the guardian just like in John Caravella's story.  You should read his book.  It's EXCELLENT!

Marie Long on Katie Couric

You have to read this one or watch the clip.  This gaurdianship scam made it big on CBS Evening News.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/23/eveningnews/main7179542.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

Guardianship Agency Costs Elderly Woman Dearly - Senate Investigation Finds Millions Allegedly Squandered or Stolen by Court Appointed Guardians

I'm telling you, all the Senate has to do is investigate Devon Bank to find millions of illegally obtained assets and a whole bunch of families/loved ones screaming in protest.

Only a Matter of Time......

Maricopa County in Arizona is cracking down on Probate court and it's cause for a celebration!  Laurie Roberts from the Arizona Republic is taking on the Probate Racket.  God love her!

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/LaurieRoberts/110264

This is how it starts... one county at a time.

ProbateSharks.com

You should really spend some time reading this website.  To me, it looks like they're trying to translate what goes on in Probate Court into simpler terms so we can all understand how they screw the elderly and disabled on the 18th floor of the courthouse.  They have a lot of links on the right hand side of their site. 

And there's another good website, Estate of Denial that I'm going to have to turn you all onto when I find more time.

Probate Sharks

Devon Bank committed a crime.  I found this on probatesharks about Land Trusts

http://probateshark.blogspot.com/

http://law.justia.com/illinois/codes/2010/chapter765/2185.html


The first day Rick and Sally came over, they had Ludwig’s will in their hands. Rick immediately started unloading Ludwig's property (and throwing him into a nursing home) and Sally opened Ludwig's will to his Land Trust document to show him.  Both Ludwig and I asked for a copy of it, she flipped the document closed and said no.  (And it's not like we had to go anywhere either.  Ludwig had a copy machine in his office.)

Janna Dutton (Ludwig's attorney) came over to the house when Ludwig’s sister flew in for his competency hearing. She asked for a copy of his land trust and will. Granted, she speaks German but it’s not so much different from the English language. (Letters are different. Like good is goot in German. On the other hand, if you want to translate the word land it’s land. No miscommunication there.) Dutton blew her off and pretended like she didn’t hear her. Then her translator asked and still nothing. (Dutton was rude to everyone this day, even her own client.)  I asked and I won’t be ignored. Snipped.

Snipped.

I’m talking to an attorney who tells me that banks are corrupt and incompetent. He sues the same bank, for the same thing all the time. He thinks they should just learn from the first lawsuit he files but they don’t, they keep asking for more.

Ludwig's Web Site

He made top spot today on NASGA.  God Bless them for giving him a voice.  I'm so overwhelmed by the support he's getting, I'm literally speechless.  I'll comment about this later or tomorrow.

http://nasga-stopguardianabuse.blogspot.com/

Janna Dutton's Debut

She made her debut on NASGA (stopguardianabuse.org), here’s the link.


http://nasga-stopguardianabuse.blogspot.com/


OBRA Trusts – Medicaid planning or Medicaid Abuse and Fraud.

In fact, one Cook County Probate Court lawyer educates her peers in ways in which very large estates may be placed into OBRA and/or other types of trusts, to allow the disabled ward to qualify for Medicaid. She also educates her peers on which types of trusts are lacking oversite, and which types of trusts allow for "administrative fees" (i.e., attorneys' and guardians' fees). Her educational video, which some feel to be controversial, may be viewed at this website: IllinoisProBono.org

She actually made her debut several months ago on probatesharks. Here:

http://probateshark.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html

Janna Dutton has an instructional video on the Internet and EVERYONE is talking about it.

It's "my personal opinion" that everyone (bank trustees, guardians, attorney's, caregiving agencies, etc.,) get excited when Dutton sets up a clients financial affairs because she sets them up to be beneficiaries of her clients estate (along with herself).

Tom Olofsson

http://www.mytrustlawyer.com/


I got this website in an email. Have you read it?

My name is Tom Olofsson. I am a lawyer. I help families plan for the future.

That third sentence sort of grabs you, doesn’t it? He’s helping you plan for your future NOT your death. Isn’t that nicely worded? He even has a nice face. His whole website was a real page turner for me.

You know what I really like about this gentleman aside from the fact that his website is simple? (He simplifies it. He doesn’t dumb it down and let’s face it, we all need the law simplified.) He opens up talking about his family, your family and treats you like family. He doesn’t just say it like the rest of the attorney’s nor does he use the word “client” over and over. He SEES YOU as a person.

He also lets you know that if you’re having a legal problem beyond his scope, he can recommend you to someone else. That tells you three things about him. He’s really looking out for what’s in your best interests, he won’t take your case then have his friends climb aboard after (so they can all make a ‘little bit of money’) and he’s admitting that he doesn’t know everything about the law. So, you’re not just dealing with another attorney with a big fat ego. Gosh, if this gentleman is for real, he's like a dream come true.

Read the section he wrote on how to choose a trustee. I seriously doubt he’d recommend Devon Bank based on those guidelines (which are good ones).

Lastly, on his blog. He talks about NASGA. Stopguardianabuse.org. (He’s got two sites, it’s kind of confusing. http://www.trustlawyers.org/) Mr. Olofsson is the first attorney that I have seen that recognizes public guardianship and the fact that it’s a serious problem in our country.

In any event, when you write about a bank scam on the Internet and name names, people come out of the woodwork. Especially anonymous posters. I can tell you ALL the Elder Law Attorneys to stay away from and sadly, it’s most of those who practice in Cook County. As a matter of fact, the law firm that I get the most complaints about is the one Devon Bank associates itself with. There is one woman that I haven’t heard a kind word about and these comments are not only from her own clients but also from their family members and loved ones. (I don’t even know this attorney NOR have I written her name but I’m getting comments. That says a lot about her.) If Devon Bank’s attorney isn’t pro-family (or pro-beneficiary) then neither are they.  Think about it.

I can also tell you horror stories about public guardians, Guardian ad Litems, doctors, nurses, trustees, judges, caregivers, caregiving agencies, nursing homes, etc. I could list all the ones on the take but I’d get carpal tunnel.

I would seriously take Mr. Olofsson into consideration if you’re planning for your future. Just read his site and compare him to other attorney’s. This gentleman stands apart by making you, your family, your needs and wishes a priority. He truly looks like he's interested in taking care of YOU and not himself.  Isn’t that a refreshing change of pace?

He also makes house calls so you don’t even have to worry about leaving the comfort of your own home. Can you imagine? Needless to say, I haven’t heard anyone complain about him and probably won’t. I’m getting a sense of personal integrity in regard to this one which is really hard to come by in this business.

Devon Bank Trust Department

They called me Tuesday. I didn’t hear my phone, I was vacuuming. Chrissy from that department called (I googled her phone number), I don’t want to put her full name because it’s inappropriate. Believe me, she wouldn’t call without direct orders from Rick Block and Sally Griffin.

I met Chrissy the time she came over holding Sally’s hand and she’s not a nice person. I am trying to establish a pattern of abuse. That anyone who opens a trust account gets isolated, surrounded, financially exploited, abused and all their loved ones get treated like they’re a bunch of criminals. So, I might as well add Chrissy and the fact she treated me like a felon. I didn’t mention her in Ludwig’s story because she’s an incidental. Everyone is secondary to the person above them.

In any event, they evicted me 17 months ago and I can’t imagine what they want now? Although, what they had to say isn’t important because they could have left a message or emailed.

You want to know the real strange part? I have a lot of things to do in regard to this bank scam. I decided (just a few hours before she called) to put everything off until after the holidays. Then I get a phone call from them. Gives you the willies, doesn’t it? The one day that I make a conscious effort to keep them out of my thoughts and plans is the one day they make a conscious effort to call… it’s frightening. I’m taking it as a sign.

Now, I’m worried about Ludwig but I always worry about him. I just googled him and he’s quite popular :)

Common Practice, it seems......

These are excerpts taken from the GAO report:

"Also, the guardian neglected to collect $39,000 of rental income for over four years on behalf of one victim."

Ludwig and I couldn't find his rental income either.  I know Root Realty did their job in collecting the money, it just never made it into Ludwig's trust account.  Your guess is as good as mine as to where that money went (and that realty company was paid $250 a month to manage two empty apartments, then just one apartment for a while).  Devon Bank was EXCELLENT when it came to passing out Ludwig's money, collecting it or making him any was another story.  (You also can't check on the banks accuracy since Rick Block has "free reign over the old man's half a million dollars!  No courts to go through!"  That's what he was bragging about when Ludwig opened his trust account at Devon Bank and no trustee is going to get that excited unless they have something to gain by it "in my opinion.") 

"The guardian hid the man's will from the court and family members..."

Another common practice at Devon Bank. I'll tell you after Ludwig passes away why they wouldn't cough this thing up aside from Mr. Block's "free reign" and the fact that not only aren't the courts watching them but obviously no one at the bank is watching those two trustees either.  I'll let you know if Ludwig's family inherits anything.

"For example, she noted that the company had purchased mental health support services for the veteran at a rate that was 1500 percent higher than necessary."

Devon Bank does the exact same thing when hiring Home Instead Caregiving Agency.  Their clients pay an OBSCENE amount of money for caregivers even if they don't want them or need them, they're forced.  When a Senior Citizen requires 24 hour care, it's more economical for them to go straight into daily rates instead of hourly.  The trustees at Devon Bank don't do this, they force their clients to continue at the hourly rate which is more than double.  When Ludwig complained about all the caregivers coming, the trustees just set him up with more and billed him more money (then, Home Instead had all kinds of things going on at Ludwig's house while he wasn't even home, just to get paid.  They made excuses to bill him but what do you expect when no one is minding the till and the bank has free reign?).  Not to mention, you have a private paid guardian who is pushing lift chairs and wheelchairs on his clients.  It's obvious they want their clients to physically deteriorate in order to move Home Instead in then bill them an outrageous fee for their "professional care."  Caregivers wouldn't even be hired if they let their clients exercise, get up or walk on their own but they don't.  Trust me, there's no $$$$ in it.

"the elderly woman did not have pierced ears and the earrings were later found in the guardian’s home. Searches of her home also revealed coins, "

I bet Rick Block is a coin collector.  (To all my anonymous posters, you don't need to tell me whether or not this is true, my intuition tells me all I need to know.  I saw the way he was looking at Ludwig's coin collection, the man was a goner.)   But I think all their homes should be looked at by the families (who had trust accounts at Devon Bank) to check to see if anything looks familiar.

"When her clients moved into a nursing facility, the permanent guardian would throw away everything in their houses......."

Another common practice at Devon Bank and Ludwig wasn't even moved to a nursing home before the trustees threw out his personal property.  They just tossed his possessions out right in front of Ludwig and the entire world.  Called the junkman.  Can you imagine? 

"The court recommended that it could either appoint the attorney to serve as the victim’s guardian, or allow the attorney to continue to serve as the victim’s trustee instead. However, in the end, it allowed both to occur...."

I don't know what difference this makes?  This is "my opinion" of the trust department at Devon Bank.  I watched Sally Griffin order Rick Block around.  She did all the talking and when we were emptying Ludwig's lockbox, she told Rick what to do and he did it.  (The reason I paid so much attention to this was because she was so disrespectful to Ludwig.  If she had any respect for her boss or employer she wouldn't disrespect her client but he didn't command any.)  Then I watched Josh Mitzen (hired by Devon Bank to be the guardian in order to steal estates out from underneath the heirs who inherit) order Sally around.  So, "in my opinion" Josh Mitzen is Senior Vice President of the Trust Department down at Devon Bank.  He definitely runs the show.... kind of like a pecking order.  Josh is over Sally, she's over Rick.  So, what difference does it make about guardian of the estate and guardian of the person?

After looking at Ludwig's trust account, watching the theives they hired come through his front door, the way the two trustees squander his money and his estate, I've come to the realization that they're (two trustees) are not out to make their employer money.  BUT that's only what I can see (by looking at their expenses), they may very well be making their employer all kinds of money "on the side."  I don't know? 

I remember several months ago, a woman left 7 million to a college.  The woman lived just like Ludwig, very simply, in a small home.  My first thought?  She didn't open a trust account at Devon Bank because they would have appointed a "care manager" then deemed her incompetent, sold her property and spent her 7 million before she died so no one inherited.  Most of it probably going to the guardian, their attorney and caregivers.  This woman got lucky.  She had a reputable attorney.  (Marlatt, I'll never forget his name.)

The good thing about this GAO report is the fact that these guardians/conservators are getting fined and imprisoned.  There is justice in the world. 

Report fraud at this link:

www.gao.gov/fraudnet/fraudnet.htm

Embezzling Money

Here's another tidbit of info that's bothering me in the GAO report:

We examined 20 cases in which guardians stole or otherwise improperly obtained more than $5.4 million in assets from 158 incapacitated victims. In some of these cases, the guardians also physically neglected and abused the people they had been appointed to care for. We obtained our information from court documents, disciplinary records, and our own interviews and research.

I personally believe that the GAO should just walk into every bank (especially the small ones) then ask to see all their guardianships because I'm sure they can find that kind of money popping out all over the place THEN get the little people (or the elderly on Medicaid and in those OBRA trusts) out and away from the private paid guardian (and back into the loving arms of family and friends).  5.4 million is small potatotes compared to what a bank trustee can embezzle, I'm sure.  Especially when they're dealing with million dollar estates, you know what I mean?

My point is, if they started looking at the banks that hold these million dollar trusts then they wouldn't have to look at 158 victims, they'd be looking at a handful in order to find 5.4 million of 'improperly obtained' assets.  THEN they can go after the private paid guardian, the bank and lift those little people out too.  I just about saved them all (except the ugly family members, that's a more difficult problem, in my opinion).

I know, it seems all too logical in my simple brain and I shouldn't be critizing the GAO, it's a nice start.  They're recognizing that this is a multi-million dollar scam and that the guardian and their attorney's seem to be living high on the hog while their clients suffer.

GAO report on Guardianships

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d101046.pdf

They did a study back in September and to read it, you'll need a box of tissues.  It's truly horrifying what guardians do to the elderly and disabled.  I found this on page one:

Using two fictitious identities—one with bad credit and one with the Social Security number of a deceased person—GAO obtained guardianship certification or met certification requirements in the four states where we applied: Illinois, Nevada, New York, and North Carolina. Though certification is intended to provide assurance that guardians are qualified to fulfill their role, none of the courts or certification organizations utilized by these states checked the credit history or validated the Social Security number of the fictitious applicants. An individual who is financially overextended is at a higher risk of engaging in illegal acts to generate funds. In addition, people with criminal convictions could easily conceal their pasts by stealing a deceased person’s identity. The tests raise questions about the effectiveness of these four state certification programs.

They're basically saying that to get certified in IL then it's as easy as opening a box of cracker jack and pulling out the prize.  Why does that not surprise me? 

AND why didn't the GAO look at Devon Bank's court docket of guardianships that I published online?  That would certainly raise a brow.  (Well, in their defense, I didn't publish it until October so, I'm going to let them slide.  Now I know they're googling guardianships though.)

Bad Apples...

I'm cracking myself up about the bad apple thing.  Rick Block and Sally Griffin live in a very beautiful world but paint it ugly in order to accomplish their objective of stealing estates.  I'm the opposite.  I live in a very beautiful world and once in a blue moon ugly people get in.  I color them beautiful.  They can slap me silly with their ugliness and I'll just shrug my shoulders and think they're having a bad day.  They abuse someone I love ONE TIME and trust me, all the ugly colors come out of the box.

That said, I agree.  All the Senior Citizens are in trouble at Devon Bank because of those two bad apples. 

Devon Bank - Twelve Senior Residence Facilities

The person who wrote me anonymously about the "About Us" page at Devon Banks website. The sentence - Today we have 17 locations including five full service offices and twelve senior residence facilities.  It should read -

Today we have 17 locations including five full service offices and twelve facilities located in senior residences.


I researched it. I can only find information on two of the twelves residences. I don’t know why they’re keeping them such a secret? I don’t think they own the Senior housing, are mismanaging their clients money on purpose to throw them into one of those homes and let Medicare pick up the tab to make more money. It does imply that they’re in cahoots with nursing homes and I already know they’re in cahoots with guardians. It just opens a whole new can of worms and a whole lot of questions:

• How many of those residents opened a trust account at Devon Bank then wound up there? If they have one client then that’s one client too many.

• Snipped.

• Do those Senior Citizens (in those residences) get choices in regard to how they spend their money OR are they forced to do whatever Devon Bank tells them to do? Do they have to hire employees of Devon Bank? Remember, Sally Griffin (bank trustee) told Ludwig that she would not sell his stocks, spend his money or hire anyone without his consent only to do what she promised she wouldn’t (and this was way before she paid a doctor to call him incompetent). She forced her employees on him, didn’t ask him any questions and when Ludwig complained, Sally said, ‘Too bad.’ Are those Seniors in those facilities treated the same way? Are they heard and asked or walked all over?

• Do they even get bank statements or are their assets hidden from them as well? It took Ludwig’s family over a year to get a copy of his will (and they didn’t get it in it’s entirety). It took almost four months for him to get a copy of his trust account (and I had to report Sally Griffin to Elder Protective Services in order to get him one). Are they hiding anyone else’s assets? If they are, why?

• Are there other banks that offer the same service (in these residences) so none of these Seniors are forced to deal with just Devon Bank? Are they given choices?

• More importantly, are they treated with decency and given respect? And if they aren’t, is there anyone that hears those poor souls cry ‘rape’ or ‘foul?’

It’s just a whole new can of worms....... I can’t exactly go over there and check to see if they’re alright but someone should that’s not employed by Devon Bank. It’s very easy to spot elder abuse too. Ask them how they’re doing and if they complain about the bank (within reason) then they’re fine. Everyone has complaints but if you're abusive, the abuser won't allow it - they beat you down until you have nothing to say.  Snipped. So, if the Seniors in those residences can complain about the bank, my guess is they're fine.  We just don't know and there's twelve residences now that house Seniors...... they might be in trouble too.


But two bad apples doesn’t spoil the entire orchard at Devon Bank. It does make you worried that you might bite into one only to discover a worm hidden inside.


I met a teller on Western Avenue. She worked there for more than 25 years (if memory serves) and she wouldn’t work there that long if she wasn’t proud to be there. She’s not only professional but personable (which you just don’t run into in the hustle and bustle of a big city like Chicago) . That woman is downright pleasant and a joy to do business with. I even complimented her on it, I couldn’t help myself. She said, ‘Maybe you should mention something to the higher ups?’ I took that to mean she felt unappreciated even though she didn’t say as much. She’s a good woman, she wouldn’t do anything to drag her employer or man down. That one has personal integrity so they’re not all bad apples at that bank.


I’ll get back to the senior residence facilities and let you know what I can find out. Thanks for the information. I appreciate all the comments people are leaving. I just don’t have time to research everything right now when I’m researching all the poor souls under guardianship. 

Thanks

I want to thank everyone for writing and giving me advice.  It's a huge bank scam.  They take their patrons money, hire people to abuse their client and everyone associated with them.  People are scared to speak out because the bank hires and knows that type of riffraff.  I will keep all your information confidential.

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