Saturday, March 21, 2009

The Story Behind the Story

In November 2005, the Los Angeles Times published a four-part investigative series titled "Guardians for Profit." The series shed light on unjust aspects of the business of professional conservatorship. The story was co-written by three Times reporters: Robin Fields, Evelyn Larrubia and Jack Leonard. Their reporting found that the elderly in California could be put under the complete legal control of a conservator with little to no notification, input or reason. Once under the thumb of a conservator, not only was it nearly impossible to remove the designation, but the conservator would often sap the financial resources of the victim, bleeding them dry. The story detailed shocking, saddening and ultimately scary accounts of seniors having their independence pulled from them before being isolated from loved ones and taken advantage of, with little to no judicial oversight.

But reporter Jack Leonard said digging up the truth was far from an easy task when it came to "Guardians for Profit." His story behind the story gives some insight into what it really takes to cut it as a journalist.

The story of how "Guardians for Profit" came to be starts in the summer of 2002, more than three years before it was published.

Full Article and Source:
Guardians Of The Truth

Guardians For Profit:
PART ONE GUARDIANS FOR PROFIT
When a Family Matter Turns Into a Business
By Robin Fields, Evelyn Larrubia and Jack Leonard
Photos: Part 1: A Sudden Loss of Independence
Conservators are supposed to protect the elderly and infirm. But some neglect their clients, isolate them -- even plunder their assets.
November 13, 2005

PART TWO GUARDIANS FOR PROFIT
Justice Sleeps While Seniors Suffer
By Jack Leonard, Robin Fields and Evelyn Larrubia
Photos: Part 2: Neglect — and Outright Theft
Probate courts are supposed to watch conservators' conduct and discipline those who abuse their authority. They've failed dismally in this vital role.
November 14, 2005

PART THREE GUARDIANS FOR PROFIT
Missing Money, Unpaid Bills and Forgotten Clients
By Evelyn Larrubia, Jack Leonard and Robin Fields
Photos: Missing Money and Unpaid Bills
Anne L. Chavis, a churchgoing nurse, had sweeping power over wards' lives. It took years for the VA and others to rein her in.
November 15, 2005

LAST OF FOUR PARTS
For Most Vulnerable,a Promise Abandoned
By Robin Fields, Evelyn Larrubia and Jack Leonard
PHOTOS: A Public Agency’s Painful Decline
GRAPHIC: Little room for the needy
L.A.'s public guardian, stripped of county funding for over a decade, turns away many in need.
November 16, 2005

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

So glad to see that LA series and now Jack Leonard's background up "in lights" again.

When we complain to judges and law enforcement, etc., they don't believe us. Do they believe the LA
Times?

So has anything much changed since then, or do the problems with loss of independence, neglect, missing money, unpaid bills, outright theft continue unabated with only an occasional professional thief nailed?

Public Guardian not working for the needy? Why not? Can't make any money!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for resurrecting and publishing this 2005 "GUARDIANS FOR PROFIT" which began in 2002.

This is proof that this industry of turning people into products to feed the hungry, greedy, needy wolves in the guardianship system is entrenched, embedded.

We are many times more at risk of suffering great bodily and financial harm from this system with court approval than we are at risk from terrorists.

This proves that knowing this scheme exists, is great risk this matter gets buried so the persons that profit can continue to profit without supervision or accountability.

Anonymous said...

Years have past and it baecame clear that not only elderly people lose their independence and freedom. Look what they did to Britney Spears! A 26-year-old woman was appointed a conservator without any notification just because she spent a night or two in a ward after her breakdown! And she's been living under it for a year already. She has been found competent to go on tour where she can cope with a two-hour stressful show EVERY DAY. But she is declared incapable of making her own decisions.
All her trials to hire a lawyer failed because the court denied her the right to have one having appointed some money-hungry leech instead.
And she appears to be absolutely helpless in this situation

I agree it's awful when elderly people suffer. But when a young person is taken away his life and is destined to remain a prisoner for the rest of his life - it's absolutely shocking!

Anonymous said...

Yes, it's good to see this series again. When I think of the beginning of guardianship/conservatorship exposure, I think of the LA Times benchmark series.

It paved the way!

Anonymous said...

When I think of the LA Times' series, I think of Helen Jones bravely teling her story with dignity --- and how sweet revenge must have tasted to her.

Anonymous said...

I applaud the efforts of these reporters to take the dangerous risk of irritating the system and those who profit in this system, individuals so powerful with friends in high places.

Yes, I believe FEAR of retaliation from the abusers is one of the resons why the media / press doesn't follow-up and pound home the truth about guardianships.

The media has so much power and influence to get society's undivided attention.

Anonymous said...

This is a series that should be made known far and wide. To try to keep this abusive system's violations under wraps by the media (some brave souls have reported), is unconscionable. The main stream media (T.V.) is not informative. It's become mind numbing entertainment masquerading as informative material.

But, the mainstream media is owned by only a few "owners" who may have a political agenda.

Anything less than the revelation of ALL the facts, portrayed accurately is propaganda.

The duty and purpose of the fourth estate is to report to the people, what the Government that the people created, for themselves, is doing.

This series, and other reports, that portray an accurate picture of the plundering, incarceration, violation of civil rights of sovereign individuals, for the bebefit of predatory states should be made available to everyone.

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely shocking and disurbing and this uncivilized barbaric behvior for profit needs to stop long time ago.

I think this series needs to be used as an example to our youngsters who I believe would be ...horrified.

It needs to be presented to public and private school children.

Let the young children and teenagers in high school see what is really going on to innocent people and it could be their grandparents.

I would love to see the reporters who worked on this be available for questioning by the children.

Anyone out there brave enough to take this project on?

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