Mom was a hair dresser. Dad was a commercial fisherman from Norway who could not read or write. Both were immigrants who held the American dream close to their heart. What happened, though, some slippery characters hatched a plot to catch Mom and Dad in a trap. 

My brother Rich, a cowboy and Grand Canyon tour guide, is fighting the trustees of dearly departed Mom and Dad’s California Trust. Rich is suing an attorney and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who were in on it. Lurking in the shadows is another attorney, "an elder law specialist" who cooked the whole thing up. 

 From fishing cod in a row boat, Dad left the old country to cast his net in America.  Accepted as an immigrant through Ellis Island in New York City, Dad headed for Oregon, where his first job was, as in Norway, rowing a boat, this time at the mouth of the Columbia River ferrying pilots in rough seas to their ships. Later, he fished king salmon off the California coast, a lot of it out front of the Golden Gate Bridge in the fog with big ships bearing down upon him (kind of like us fighting these trustees in court).  

Marrying Mom, they saved everything to be handed down to their family. In his old age, suffering from dementia, thinking he was doing what was best, he and Mom signed up with these attorneys. Mom, diagnosed numerous times with dementia went along. These attorneys had the power to manipulate and take advantage of people like my parents. All too often you hear of attorneys taking the life savings of others and that is what happened to Mom and Dad. Anyone with a bad experience with attorneys can relate. Rich has been in a court battle for years and is running out of money.  I am pleading, on his behalf, for any help. We are so close but desperately need funds to beat these attorneys and not let this happen to anyone else.

 The Trust was drawn up by Mom and Dad's attorney. She was the real kingpin.  She was the one who cooked the whole thing up. She's pulled the same trick on not just a few old folks. She's part of a national organization of elder law attorneys.She's the girlfriend of the trustee/attorney (as admitted to in deposition). She oversaw the signing of the Trust even though Mom hardly even knew her own name. She got Dad with severe dementia ("it's the worst I've ever seen," said the neurologist) to sign the Trust (everything Dad owned) over to her boyfriend, the trustee/attorney. She changed Dad's mailing address to her own (mail fraud?).  She  applied for a $200K loan using Dad's property as equity (bank fraud?)  

The reason I am seeking crowdfunding: this type of case happens way too often.  Unscrupulous attorneys and trustees obtain the trust and confidence of old folks and run away with everything.  Furthermore, using Trust assets to fund their defence, they are rarely brought to justice. If found liable, they will think twice about taking advantage of old folks ever again. 

After years of litigation involving three trial delays by opposition, the trial is set for October 29^th, 2018 in San Luis Obispo California. The trial will cost my brother Rich, $50K. Sounds crazy but you would not believe all that goes into a trial and its preparation.  Rich’s attorney has accused the trustees of multiple Breaches of Trust and Wilful Misconduct (criminality?). The Trustees claim that all the assets were used for care and repairs to the properties but have failed to establish these claims and in reality did very little. Property assets were negligently sold at undervalue. Huge and disproportionate professional fees were charged.  

By supporting Rich's case, you will help put some shady characters out of business. Support Rich's case by making a contribution.