Loss of Trust: San Jose man battles trustee, court system to preserve life savings
Mercury Newsmercurynews.com
Posted: 06/29/2012 12:11:02 PM PDT
June 29, 2012 10:3 PM GMTUpdated: 06/29/2012 03:03:15 PM PDT
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In a span of three years, two cars plowed into Danny Reed, leaving him brain-injured and partially paralyzed. But the San Jose man eventually earned a measure of relief -- a trust fund created for a lifetime of care.
Then he was hit again, this time in a seldom-watched branch of Santa Clara County Superior Court, when the man appointed by a judge to protect Reed's assets delivered the six-figure bill for his services.
While Reed's case stands out among the roughly 1,500 elderly and incapacitated adults whose lives and finances are overseen by Santa Clara County's probate court, a six-month Mercury News investigation found a small group of the county's court-appointed personal and estate managers are handing out costly and questionable bills -- and charging even more if they are challenged.
Over the next four days, on MercuryNews.com and in the newspaper, you can learn more about the troubling trend that is depleting the life savings of some of Silicon Valley's most vulnerable adults -- and the local practices and state laws that allow it to persist.
Check back on this site at 3 p.m. Saturday and in the pages of the Mercury News on Sunday to read "Loss of Trust,'' the story of one San Jose man's struggle to fight his court-appointed trustee's bills and to change the system.
And then at 3 p.m. Sunday, learn how other Bay Area courts are holding the line on private estate and care managers' fees.
At noon Monday, join our online chat on how to avoid probate conservatorships with staff writer Karen de Sá and local experts in trust and probate law.
As always, let us know what you think by sharing your comments below.
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_20972924/loss-trust-san-jose-man-battles-trustee-court
Monday, July 2, 2012
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