A Chilling Story of Fraud Targeting an Elderly Victim
JUNE 17, 2013 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 23 Last week a colleague told us a story that we think needs to be shared. Patricia Sitchler, a nationally-known San Antonio lawyer with the prominent Texas firm Schoenbaum, Curphy & Scanlan, P.C., described her client’s eye-opening experience with a fraudulent attempt to access her bank account. We asked […]
Mother Sues Son Over Transfer of Home and Bank Accounts
MARCH 15, 2004 VOLUME 11, NUMBER 37 Louise Friar worried about what would happen to her modest estate if she ever needed to go into a nursing home. She owned her home, and she had two certificates of deposit that represented her life savings. Whether she got the idea from friends, professional advisors, her own […]
Proponent of Invalid Will Must Pay Attorney’s Fees to Family
JANUARY 19, 2004 VOLUME 11, NUMBER 29 Edmond and Elma Crittell befriended Violet Houssien and, according to Ms. Houssien’s family, set about getting the older woman to write a new will. Some of the evidence in the later will contest proceeding indicated that they may have even forged her signature on the will and, in […]
Daughter Who Took Mother’s Money May Owe Nursing Bills
SEPTEMBER 15, 2003 VOLUME 11, NUMBER 11 Betty Budd spent the last years of her life at Presbyterian Medical Center, a nursing home in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. When she died she owed $96,000 to the facility, and only had $28,000 left in her estate. After collecting that amount, the nursing home filed suit against Ms. Budd’s […]
Administrator’s Sentence For Medicare Fraud Not Reduced
FEBRUARY 10, 2003 VOLUME 10, NUMBER 32 Medicare, the federal health care program for seniors and the disabled, has very clear rules prohibiting providers from paying referral fees. The rules are in place to help prevent fraud and abuse of the giant Medicare program and its funding. Over the four decades the program has existed, […]
Stockbroker Faces Both Criminal Charges and SEC In Theft
JUNE 10, 2002 VOLUME 9, NUMBER 50 Charles Zandford was a stockbroker working for Prudential-Bache Securities in 1987 when he first met William Wood. Mr. Zandford persuaded the elderly Mr. Wood to place over $400,000 in a brokerage account for investment. The money was intended to take care of not only Mr. Wood but also […]
Defendant In Medicaid Fraud Case Responds To Elder Law Issues
MARCH 25, 2002 VOLUME 9, NUMBER 39 On January 12, 2002, Elder Law Issues reported on the Medicaid fraud conviction of Massachusetts doctor Lorin Mimless (“States Vigorously Prosecute Medicaid and Medicare Fraud”). After his conviction Dr. Mimless filed an unsuccessful appeal with the Massachusetts Court of Appeals. Dr. Mimless read our report, and wrote to […]
Damages Upheld For Medicare “Whistle-Blower” Employee
JANUARY 28, 2002 VOLUME 9, NUMBER 31 When Illinois anesthesiologist Michael Brandon was fired he was sure it was in retaliation for his efforts to uncover possible Medicare fraud. He sued his employer, Anesthesia & Pain Management Associates, Ltd., and won a jury verdict. That was not, however, the end of the legal wrangling. Dr. […]
States Vigorously Prosecute Medicaid and Medicare Fraud
JANUARY 14, 2002 VOLUME 9, NUMBER 29 According to the federal government, as much as 10% of the funding for the joint federal/state Medicaid program is lost to fraud, mostly on the part of medical providers. The Medicare program is also deeply concerned about the possibility of fraudulent costs. Although both the Medicaid and Medicare […]
“Trust Mill” Shut Down, But State Pays Parent Company
SEPTEMBER 17, 2001 VOLUME 9, NUMBER 12 Fremont Life Insurance Company did a profitable business selling seniors living trusts. They used the usual pitch: avoid probate and the legal system, save on taxes and simplify your estate plan. Oh, and while we’re helping you plan your estate we think you should buy an annuity from […]
