Sunday, February 15, 2009

2 years and $672,808 Wealth Transferred , Why?

Why Do I have to write the same story about my mother, Why ? Let it stop in the Southermost Probate Court and Let it Stop Now !

By JAMES ELI SHIFFER, Star Tribune


It still feels like heaven for Peggy Greer to wake up in her own bed. One of her sons checks on her each day, but she's happy enough on her own in her Excelsior home, writing stories alongside her 20-year-old cat, Nyse.
Greer will be 86 in March. That month will mark the fourth anniversary of her strange journey through the justice system in which she overcame a life crisis but her assets disappeared with the approval of a Hennepin County judge.


For more than two years, Greer was among a growing number of Minnesotans living under the authority of a guardian and conservator. The court- appointed officials had broad power over her life once a judge deemed Greer incapable of making decisions about her housing, health care or finances.

Disturbed by the decisions made on her behalf, Greer repeatedly fought to regain control of her affairs. During that time, the guardian, Professional Fiduciary Inc. (PFI), and the conservator, Wells Fargo Elder Services, spent more than $600,000 of her money, much of it on health care for her that some family members called excessive. Nearly $100,000 went to lawyers.
"My money was all used up, was all gone, without my knowledge or OK or anything," Greer said.


The system was set up to protect the vulnerable. Guardians make decisions about an individual's living situation and medical care. Conservators manage a person's finances with the purpose of preserving as much as possible. But it is an industry with little regulation: In Minnesota, there are no licensing requirements for guardians and conservators.

Last month, a state study concluded that the system has inadequate procedures for dealing with complaints, evaluating a ward's well-being and keeping track of money.

Nationally, groups that represent guardians and conservators and senior citizens have raised concerns about how well the courts oversee the actions of guardians and conservators, even as the nation's aging population places greater and greater demands on them.


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There is only one problem with this story "The deadbeat son living off his mother. That forced the other children to seek a guardian to deal with the situation. Once the government, laws, and lawyers get involved, the money goes real quickly."

This is a clear attempt to vilify and slander the family often without any proof and usually based on innuendos but short on evidence when a son or a daughter puts his career on hold to be there for his parents he is vilified and labeled a "Deadbeat" keeping in mind that it costs on the average $10,000 per month to keep the elder in a nursing home.
Elders are usually very clear about their preference to be taken care of at home.

I bet you that "deadbeat" son wasn't charging anywhere near that to lovingly take care of his parent and they were much better taken care off than in a nursing home.

When there is a disagreement like this the family needs compassion,and helpful advise not a bunch of opportunists to pile on like vultures or a pack of wild dogs
to take whatever they can stuff their greedy pockets with.

Ray Fedz

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Phil was adopted and an only child, his parents did not want him to work, they wanted him there for them. He was 40 years old when they took his Mom and Dad over.

They had 4 bank accounts, CDs, other investments, insurances, a home and land, cars, a boat, mineral rights....... between $8,000.00 to $10,000.00 a month income comeing in. They had all of this with Phil and us helping them and doing for them.

I had an income that Phil, me, and the kids lived on, the only thing that his parents supplied us with was no rent, or utitlites, but we worked that off by doing the lawn, painting of home and other buildings, car maintenance, changeing light bulbs........... You name it we did it. But we were not doing it for pay, these jobs were done out of LOVE AND RESPECT, and to show their love and appriciation for what we did for them they allowed us to live on the land with them so incase of emergency or other needs we would be there.

They were taken over, and in less than two years the Manire's had nothing, oh and we were homeless (Phil, me and three children). We were accused of being a disfunctional family, we were accused of stealing from Doris and Speck, all of this was told to the judge and we were discredited as guardians.

I don't think that the courts need a reason, or a true problem with anyone they take over, they will make up their own reasons, mostly by takeing the truth and twisting it to make them in the right.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to see hear the deadbeat son's side of the story. Not that such a circumstance did not exist; but, I and others have heard of siblings who are afraid that the in house sibling will end up with more than his share, when the parent passes, in which case, they all loose, especially the vulnerable parent who loves all her children and wants family harmony. At any age, a parent wants to help their children, until the child becomes abusive. Knowing, the price which was paid, the distress on the mother, could or would the family have done anything differently? If the deadbeat son had an addiction, could he have been committed for help? Could the mother be taken into the other childrens' home, until she regained her health? I had a career; but, was willing to do anything to give my mother quality days. My casa, was her casa. I didn't even want a penny. My mother deserved to be happy and taken care of and before nursing home and guardianship hell, I could have and was willing to pay for whatever she needed. I wanted my mother to enjoy her final days, that she so deserved, after taking care of others and putting everyone elses' needs above her own all of her life. Clearly, if APS found an elderly was not being taken care of, it sheds a bad light on all. I recognizd my mothers needs and I could not get anyone to do anything. The message is clear, that families need to work together for the best care for their parents and it is much better, if the siblings honored their parents wishes to stick together and handle things as a family; eliminating the need for outsiders.

Anonymous said...

They almost always vilify the "good" ones. The loving caretakers are
lied about, painted as villains, because as in literature, they have
to create a foil (the evil, bad one) because the loving caretakers are
the obstructors to their plan. The Conservators/guardians have to
wrestle that gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is bad, while they are "good,"
AND if there are other members of a family who are greedy, they can
be "worked" with.
Also, we focus on the guardians, but they couldn't do what they do
without the blessing of a judge who does the work for the state, AND
the judges often give back to their party (there are members of their
party in the legislature which includes the Judiciary Committee).
Judges are elected to Probate court.

Anonymous said...

There is only one problem with this story "The deadbeat son living off his mother. That forced the other children to seek a guardian to deal with the situation. Once the government, laws, and lawyers get involved, the money goes real quickly."

This is a clear attempt to vilify and slander the family often
without any proof and usually based on innuendos but short on
evidence when a son or a daughter puts his career on hold to be there for his parents he is vilified and labeled a "Deadbeat" keeping in mind that it costs on the average $10,000 per month to keep the elder in a nursing home.

Elders are usually very clear about their preference to be taken care of at home.

I bet you that "deadbeat" son wasn't charging anywhere near that to lovingly take care of his parent.

When there is a disagreement like this the family needs
compassion,and helpful advise not a bunch of lawyers to pile on
like vultures or a pack of wild dogs to take whatever they can stuff their greedy pockets with.

Anonymous said...

Probate court appointed Guardianships is Today's
SCAM on American Family's.
These courts have NO monitoring with checks and balances: NO transparency allowing corrupt Judges and their 'cronies' to profit off the elderly. This is a National Epidemic expexted to become a Trillion dollar scam off the baby boomer generation. Attorney/Legislators are actively writing NEW laws making it easier and easier for their 'cronies' and their own lawfirms! to exploit the elderly.

It's time for the People to Stand Up and demand TRANSPARENCY in State's Civil Courts to ensure citizens' civil rights and due process of law are not violated! Contact your Legislators, your Attorney General's Office, the Federal Health and Human Services. If you've been a victim of these courts, submit your case documents to the Federal Inspector General and the Federal Dept of Justice. These PERPS need to be Stopped!