Florida

Certain states and counties with a high concentration of seniors have become "hotspots" where the exploitation is rampant. FLORIDA is one of them.

Local hospital uses court to keep patient for a year, charges $1.2 million in medical bills, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, January 17, 2022

Charlie Crist Gets Some GOP Support for Guardians Aren't Above Prosecution Act, Florida Daily, Kevin Derby, December 21, 2021

Florida's guardianship task force recommends statewide tracking, targeting conflicts of interest, Monivette Cordeiro, Orlando Sentinel, November 19, 2021

92-year-old Brandon woman under guardianship to move to France, Tampa Bay Times, Hannah Critchfield, November 17, 2021

'Trapped in guardianship': Task force recommends legislative changes, WESH NBC2, Greg Fox, November 12, 2021

Supported Decision Making: Treasure Coast group supporting bill to help people with intellectual disabilities preserve their rights, WPTV NBC5 Meghan McRoberts, November 5, 2021

How 1.3 Millions Americans Became Controlled by Conservatorships, WebMD/HealthDay News, Dennis Thompson, October 18, 2021

Britney Spears conservatorship case gives hope to others in guardianships, CBS 12 News, Danielle DeRos, September 30, 2021

Here Are 8 Major Takeaways From BuzzFeed News' Investigation Into Guardianships, BuzzFeed News, Heidi Blake and Katie J,M, Baker, September 28, 2021

They Both Fought To Break Free From Guardianship. Only One Escaped, BuzzFeed News, Heidi Blake and Katie J.M. Baker, September 19, 2021

Beyond Britney: Abuse, Exploitation, and Death Inside America's Guardianship Industry, Buzzfeed, Heidi Blake and Katie J.M. Baker, September 17, 2021

I-Team: Getting out of guardianship, one former ward's story, CBS12 News, Danielle DaRos, August 25, 2021

Hospitals seek dismissal of lawsuit by family of man whose death sparked Florida guardianship scandal, Orlando Sentinel, Monivette Cordeiro, August 11, 2021

#FreeBritney movement inspires bill to end exploitation & abuse in guardianship and conservatorship, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, July 20, 2021

The reality of guardianship: A family's fight to be together, Fox4, July 16, 2021

What happened to Britney Spears also happened to me - in Florida | Opinion, Tallahassee Democrat, Viviana Bonilla Lopez and Michael Lincoln, July 15, 2021

Guardianship Abuse is Elder Abuse | Opinion, Newsweek, Kimberly Guilfoyle, June 28 2021

Former guardian allegedly stole guns, forged appraisal, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, June 20, 2021

'They take away everything': Orlando man's rights restored after 7 years under legal guardianship, WFTV 9, Angela Jacobs and Sarah Wilson, May 7, 2021

Florida bills offer an alternative to court-appointed guardians for seniors, Tampa Bay Times, Bailey LeFever, April 9, 2021

Port St. Lucie man becomes champion for disability rights after winning landmark case, WPTV 5, Meghan McRoberts, March 25, 2021

Britney Spears, Netflix's 'I Care A Lot' put guardianship abuse in spotlight, Tampa Bay Times, Kathryn Varn, March 16, 2021

Former guardian charged with pillaging elderly man's estate refuses to sign final accounting, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, March 4, 2021

Audit finds missteps in Orange County Clerk of Courts handling of guardianship cases, Click Orlando, Emilee Speck, March 1, 2021

'I Care a Lot' Real Story - Is I Care a Lot Based on a True Story?, Esquire, Adrienne Westenfeld, February 23, 2021

Guardian waits 12 days to inform family members of their loved one's COVID-19 death, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, January 22, 2021

Man placed in guardianship by family who objected to new wife fights to get rights restored, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, December 28, 2020

Guardianship ends in isolation from family, alleged neglect and death from COVID-19, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, December 21, 2020

Woman wrongly placed in Florida's guardian program uses smuggled phone, Facebook to secure freedom, WESH NBC2, Greg Fox, November 19, 2020

Florida woman escapes guardianship using secret phone and Facebook to contact media, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, November 16, 2020

Florida Bar section proposes new guardianship rules with less transparency, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, September 11, 2020

Ex-guardian Rebecca Fierle may not stand trial in ward’s death until 2021, attorney says, Orlando Sentinel, Monivette Cordeiro, July 28, 2020

Florida watchdog allowed 8 professional guardians who violated state law to continue practicing, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, July 23, 2020

Forced Assistance, The Intercept, Rachel M. Cohen, July 6, 2020

DeSantis Signs Florida Guardianship Bill Into Law, Expanding Oversight of Program, Spectrum News, Greg Angel, June 19, 2020

Families Seek Big Changes to Guardianships, WCTV - Capitol News Service, Mike Vasilinda, January 30, 2020

Guardianship agency gets new director after prior leader’s ouster amid Rebecca Fierle scandal, Orlando Sentinel, Kate Santich, January 15, 2020

Florida lawmakers demand guardianship reform as I-Team finds investigation backlog at state watchdog, WFTS ABC Action News, Adam Walser, December 16, 2019

'It strips them of their dignity': Changes possible for Florida's flawed guardianship program, by Greg Fox, WESH 2, November 8, 2019

Is Boomer OK? House committee workshops guardianship woes, by A.G. Gancarski, FLAPOL, November 7, 2019

Amid Rebecca Fierle scandal, Orange to add guardianship manager to identify 'high risk' cases, by Monivette Cordeiro, Orlando Sentinel, October 29, 2019

Tampa Bay area hospitals seeking to strip patients' rights, I-Team investigation finds, by Adam Wasler, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, October 21, 2019

Florida guardianship laws weakened by elder law attorneys' lobbying. For some courts, exceptions have become the rule | Special report, Jason Garcia and Monivette Cordeiro, Orlando Sentinel, September 5, 2019

Florida's troubled guardianship system riddled with conflicts of interest, critics claim | Special Report, Monivette Cordeiro, Orlando Sentinel, August 17, 2019

State confirms mass resignations at Florida watchdog office overseeing guardianship abuse, by Adam Wasler, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, August 9, 2019

Congressman Crist and Bilirakis lead a bipartisan Introduce Bill to Protect Seniors and People with Disabilities Under Care of Guardians, News Talk Florida, August 9, 2019

Florida tried to fix guardianship system. Rebecca Fierle case reveals it's still broken, critics say, by Kate Santich, Orlando Sentinel, August 8, 2019

Florida Congressmen Want to Protect the Disabled From Abusive Guardians, by Kevin Derby, Sunshine State News, August 8, 2019

Cremated remains 9 people found at Orlando office of disgraced former guardian Rebecca Fierle, by Monivette Cordeiro, Orlando Sentinel, August 7, 2019

Federal legislation filed to address guardianship issues as scandal embroils Florida's troubled program, Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel, August 7, 2019

Florida Elder Affairs chief details changes to troubled guardianship program, says he asked top official to resign, by Kate Santich and Monivette Cordeiro, Orlando Sentinel, July 31, 2019

Central Florida guardian is a no show in Volusia County court, by Adrianna Iwasinski, WKMG ClickOrlando, July 29, 2019

Ron DeSantis vows to investigate Florida's guardianship program, by Associated Press, Tampa Bay Times, July 25, 2019

Embattled professional guardian accused of causing death resigns from 40 cases, by Adam Wasler, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, July 23, 2019

Director of Florida guardianship system steps down, by Emilee Speck, WKMG ClickOrlando, July 23, 2019

Investigation underway into whether guardian broke the law regarding 'do-not-resuscitate' order, WESH 2,  July 16, 2019

I-team investigation into veteran's cremation by a fake nephew prompts calls for change, by Kylie McGivern, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, July 16, 2019

Judge removes professional guardian from nearly 100 cases for alleged violations, by Adam Wasler, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, July 12, 2019

Former professional guardian in Pinellas County convicted of 2nd-degree petit theft, by Adam Wasler, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, June 10, 2019

Guardianship registration revoked for Betsy Savitt, wife of retired judge, by John Pacenti, The Palm Beach Post, March 21, 2019

Gov. DeSantis: 'There doesn't seem to be anybody held accountable,' describing guardianship oversight, by Adam Wasler, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, February 27, 2019

They're court-appointed to protect the elderly, but who's policing Florida guardians?, by Katie LaGrone, WPTV West Palm Beach, February 22, 2019

Florida offers little oversight over state guardians, by WTXL Digital Staff, February 22, 2019

State watchdog does little to hold court-appointed guardians accountable, by Adam Wasler and Erin Smith, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, February 20, 2019

The best legal planning may not be enough to keep you safe from guardianship, by Adam Wasler and Erin Smith, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, February 19, 2019

Realtor seeks court-ordered guardianship to take away rights of elderly beach hotel owner, by Adam Wasler and Erin Smith, WFTS Tampa Bay ABC Action News, February 18, 2019

Judge deals Florida’s new guardianship office big setback in Elizabeth Savitt case, by John Pacenti, The Palm Beach Post, January 5, 2019

Buzz Aldrin dispute puts spotlight on guardianship issues, Florida Today, by Steven J. Lacey and Brooke M. Benzio, July 31, 2018

New guardianship office set to fight senior abuse,  Kolo8ABC, by Terri Russell, January 30, 2018

Issues for Elders: Guardianship should only be sought as a last resort, Naples Daily News, by Jill Burzynski, August 8, 2017

Jury hits lawyers with $16.4M for doing senior wrong in guardianship, Palm Beach Post, by John Pacenti, August 4, 2017

Taking care of those who took care of you, First Coast News, by Joe Kuczynski, July 29, 2017

Professional guardian under investigation by Attorney General for allegedly exploring seniors, ABC Action News. by Adam Walser, July 7, 2016

Attorney for judge's wife tried to change new rules for guardians, Palm Beach Coast, by John Pacenti, April 8, 2017

Supreme Court chief justice tackles guardianship amid complaints, Palm Beach Post, by John Pacenti, October 24, 2016

Seniors stripped of their Right to Vote; Florida a Hotspot, The Huffington Post, by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, October 7, 2016

Professional guardianship laws expanding to protect seniors from exploitation, Local 10 News, by Sara Girard, July 25, 2016

New Program to Root Our in Florida's Guardianship System, NBC Miami, by Mc Nelly Torres and Tony Pipitone, July 22, 2016

Professional guardian under investigation by Attorney General for allegedly exploring seniors, ABC Action News. by Adam Walser, July 7, 2016

Local 10 News viewer claims guardian not acting in best interest of father, Local 10 News, by Judy Reich, March 2, 2016

Florida guardianship reform passes; seniors protest at courthouse, Palm Beach Post, by John Pacenti, February 24, 2016

Solution to guardianship crisis? Advocates say cap fees, Palm Beach Post, by John Pacenti, January 24, 2016

Florida Senate approves guardianship overhaul, Miami Herald, by Kathleen McGrory, April 28, 2015

Film to detail horror stories from Florida guardianship, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Barbara Peters Smith, April 15, 2015

Guardianship, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Barbara Peters Smith, April 4, 2015

Guardianship horror stories may lead to change, Miami Herald, by Carli Teproff and Kathleen McGrory, March 22, 2015

Elder Guardianship: A well-oiled machine, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Barbara Peters Smith, December 8, 2014

Elder guardianship: Between a rock and a hard place, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Barbara Peters Smith, December 7, 2014

Elder guardianship: "For two and a half years, I had no rights," Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Barbara Peters Smith, December 6, 2014

Elder guardianship: Listening to them, Sarasota Herald Tribune, by Barbara Peters Smith, December 2014

Florida's Guardians Often Exploit the Vulnerable Residents They're Supposed to Protect, Miami New Times, by Michael E. Miller, May 8, 2014

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