Articles by Sam Sugar, MD
Look back exactly one year; #Free Britney Rally
From September 5, 2019–one year ago to the day Not much has happened or changed since then except that the Hospital has been let off the hook for now and Fierle’s trial is indefinitely postponed. Spectrum News, Orlando FL ORLANDO, Fla. — As state investigators focus their attention on embattled professional guardian Rebecca Fierle, advocates warn people to be aware of the larger widespread issues plaguing Florida’s guardianship programs. Advocates say the problems [- more...]
Conclusion of Probate Tricks of the Trade
For parts 1 and 2 go to https://aaapg.net/probate-tricks-of-the-trade-part-2/ Part three no checks no balances The unlimited latitude of State equity probate court judges is ultimately the source of the abuse that takes place in hotspot guardianships. This highlights the bizarre nature of equity courts in general which include not only probate but also family and divorce courts. Bankruptcy courts used to be part of this system but have been federalized in recent years. [- more...]
Probate Tricks of the Trade Part 2
You can see part 1 at Probate Tricks of the Trade Part two The middle of a guardianship Once the guardianship train leaves the station it is inexorably gathers speed and momentum making it nearly impossible to stop. As always everything that happens in guardianships whether they are abusive or not so abusive is a direct result of the attitude and rulings of the only person whose opinion matters at all, namely the judge. The role of the judge in equity is particularly important because his [- more...]
Probate Tricks of the Trade
Part 1 For the naïve visitor to the inner workings of probate court, it might come as a surprise to know that there are a number of underhanded tricks employed by court insiders that give them an unfair advantage and almost always guarantee that the guardianship production mill continues to create lucrative cases in which massive legal and professional guardian fees can be collected. The very beginning of the process presents the opportunity to buffalo the judge into believing that the [- more...]
Send this letter to Probate Judges running for Office
https://1drv.ms/w/s!AkhleSCTwahdq18V3Waxnv4_6gna?e=rc7pws If a judge promises to act properly and then does not, at the very least he/she can be publicly shamed. AAAPG will keep a record of received responses. All YOU need to do is email this letter to the judge’s campaign and follow up with a phone [- more...]
AAAPG Survey of Guardianship Abuses
While there are countless anecdotal reports of abuses in Probate Equity Guardianships, there has been a dearth of real data collection about the way seniors have been abused repeatedly in these courts. AAAPG has collected, analyzed and documented 277 cases and now presents those results in Powerpoint format for use by advocates and others. https://1drv.ms/p/s!AkhleSCTwahdq10ASECvtKMJQN-2?e=lDhMZ8 Click the above link to see the most comprehensive study of the national guardianship abuse racket [- more...]
Getting Educated about the Racket
The professional Guardianship racket is a threat to everyone who loves or is or will be a Senior in America. Abusive Professional Guardians and their hired gun hyper litigious lawyers will torture and impoverish anyone they attack and they do not even have to steal to get rich in guardianship cases. All they must do is accumulate and collect on the mountains of fees they charge helpless wards and their families. The following is the playbook court insiders and private guardians use to abuse [- more...]
New Report from Spectrum Institute on Guardianship/Conservatorship Capacity
Spectrum Institute has convened a Capacity Assessment Workgroup to review the current capacity assessment process in probate court proceedings in California — especially in conservatorship proceedings. Spectrum Institute is a nonprofit organization advocating for disability rights and conservatorship reform. The workgroup will identify any deficiencies in policy and practice and develop specific proposals to improve the capacity assessment process. The underlying goal is to ensure [- more...]
New Florida G Ship Law Signed by Governor
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2020/06/19/desantis-signs-florida-guardianship-bill-into-law DeSantis Signs Florida Guardianship Bill Into Law, Expanding Oversight of Program By Greg Angel Florida PUBLISHED 4:02 PM ET Jun. 19, 2020 ORLANDO, Fla. — Added protections for Floridians under guardianship, inspired in part by Spectrum News’s nearly yearlong investigation into Florida’s problem-plagued guardianship program, are now state law. What You Need To Know Florida [- more...]