Louis Russo (WFSB)
NEW FAIRFIELD, CT (WFSB) - A 96-year-old World War II veteran said he was taken advantage of by a former court appointed conservator.
Louis Russo, of New Fairfield, served in World War II and earned a VA pension and social security benefits that he still receives.
Even with those benefits, he owes tens of thousands of dollars for medical bills.
"The whole affair seems to be a nightmare, and shouldn't happen to anyone, let alone a veteran,” Russo said, adding that he just wants to be freed from the court's supervision so he can live the rest of his life on his own, without attorneys or a conservator.
Russo served in the United States Army and fought in the pacific during World War II, and 75 years later he is now fighting his government, after being removed from the home he built.
"It can be described only as a tale of horror,” he said.
He was appointed his first involuntary probate court conservator in 2013.
Russo fell almost two years ago, and around the same time town officials expressed concerns with his living situation.
"Lou lived in the garage for decades. No running water, he burned wood in basement for heat,” said Russo's current conservator and attorney, Dean Lewis.
"He did go to the nursing home for over a year. Brought to St. John Paul because his living conditions, (and) the city of New Fairfield took action through conservatorship to have him removed,” Lewis said.
Russo denies that claim, and was adamant about concerns with some of the people being paid by the state who were making decision for him.
Last Friday, a probate judge agreed, ruling Russo's first conservator did not deal with Russo's property properly.
In 2013, Russo was appointed his first involuntary probate court conservator, a man named Mark Broadmeyer.
"The meanest, most vindictive person on the planet,” Russo said. "He didn't want to let go of the prize he caught, meaning me."
Broadmeyer resigned in the fall, and a judge on last Friday ordered him to return more than $34,000 back to Russo's estate.
New court documents revealed Broadmeyer “failed to properly inventory and protect certain assets,” including scrapping Russo's bulldozer, bucket loader, back hoe, dump truck and pick-up truck for $1,800, and renting Russo's home without proper permission.
"Who knows what happened to the rent, because I certainly haven't seen any of it,” Russo said.
Court documents also show Broadmeyer's fees to fix up Russo's home “failed to meet the standard of what is reasonable.”
All of this happened while Russo was racking up more than $100,000 from a privately owned Danbury nursing home.
He still owes more than $30,000 and said he never should have gone there.
"I wanted to get put in a veteran's hospital and never get charged a penny. And they ignored that from very first day,” Russo said.
Broadmeyer said in an email that he has no comment on this case.
"In my opinion he accounted for all the money he received, I'm just in disagreement with how he spent the money. So I don't personally believe it's criminal. I think he mismanaged it in some manners,” Lewis said.
A criminal complaint has been filed with the Connecticut State Police and is now under investigation.
Former Marine Dan Gaita, co-founder of Operation Vet Fit, is one of Russo's strongest supporters.
"Greed is the cause, but the result is neglect, exploitation and robbing a combat veteran of his dignity,” Gaita said. "Some of us take the phrase ‘leave no man behind' serious. I'm one of them.”
Last fall Gaita, and an army of volunteers he organized, helped Russo with his home repairs, food donations, and much more.
"Here is someone who is disabled, elderly, served the country and has had everything taken from him by people in positions of power and wealth and influence that will circumvent the laws to provide for their own wealth and well-being while turning their backs on the people like this who gave our country a chance to emerge as a world leader,” Gaita said.
Russo has been back in his home since late fall, with care 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and said he now just wants the court involvement to end.
“I want complete severance from the court's jurisdiction... and to resume my life as I had before,” Russo said.
Things are still tied up in court, and the biggest issue is how to get the money to pay the nursing home bill.
Even with the probate judge's order last week, the soldier appeared to feel defeated.
“It doesn't matter because Broadmeyer is broke,” Russo said. “It's encouraging we haven't been forgotten; there is some justice there after all."
Broadmeyer's attorney said he hasn't read the ruling yet or met with his client and cannot comment until then.
They have 30 days to appeal, and the same judge will hand down a decision whether to issue a reverse mortgage to help pay off Russo's nursing home bill.
Anyone looking to make a tax deductible donation can make it payable to The Louis Russo Fund, C/O: Operation Vet Fit, 120 Greenwood Ave., Bethel CT.
The funds are used solely for Louis Russo, his phone, cable, internet, life alert system, food and any other expenses he needs assistance with.
Read more: http://www.wfsb.com/story/29136095/veteran-fighting-for-justice#ixzz3cBn5UIHn
