Janet Phelan
November 19, 2010
San Bernardino County Sentinel
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“A recent board meeting found the members focused on concerns about raising more revenue for the bureau, which has taken out two loans totaling over a million dollars in order to stay solvent. The bureau reported that $357,000 for the current year covered only two staff positions and that a mere $50,000 was allotted for enforcement. The minutes reflect concerns that “one big case would break the budget.”
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When Janis Schock learned that her complaint of conservator wrongdoing, submitted to the California Professional Fiduciaries Bureau, had been closed without an investigation taking place, she was dumbfounded. The communication from Angela Bigelow, analyst and sole full-time employee of the Professional Fiduciary Bureau (PFB), stated that the court must first make a determination of wrongdoing before the PFB could take action. Janis Schock wasn’t so sure this was true.
As it turns out, Schock was correct.
The Professional Fiduciaries Bureau is a relatively new addition to consumer oversight agencies and is lodged in the Department of Consumer Affairs. The PFB was established by an act of law in 2006, following public outcry engendered by a 2005 Los Angeles Times series which revealed questionable practices by California conservators, who were at that time unlicensed. The bureau, as written into law, is mandated to license professional fiduciaries, to investigate complaints and, where appropriate, to refer complaints to law enforcement. The bureau is also empowered to revoke a license based on complaints and to take action on unlicensed activity. The Professional Fiduciaries Act defines a professional fiduciary in this manner:
“Professional fiduciary”means a person who acts as a conservator of the person, the estate, or person and estate, or guardian of the estate, or person and estate, for two or more individuals at the same time who are not related to the professional fiduciary or to each other.
Conservators are generally appointed through court proceedings when there are allegations that a person is lacking capacity; in other words, becoming forgetful or otherwise unable to handle his or her affairs. These allegations need meet no standard of proof, which provides an opening for abuse of process. The Government Accountability Office recently released a report citing multiple instances where a conservator had abused his powers to the detriment of the conservatee. Several grassroots groups have sprung up to address the issue of abusive conservatorships, which are reported to be taking place countrywide.
The Bureau did not open its doors for business until the Summer of 2008. Governor Schwarzenneger, who had signed the bill establishing the PFB in 2006, subsequently line- item vetoed the funding for the infant agency two years running. In an interview with this reporter in 2008 for an article published in The American´s Bulletin, Assemblyman Dave Jones, who was a primary author of the bill, voiced his surprise that the Governor acted to gut these bills without any such recommendation from his own party. “What is particularly troubling is that this is a cut that was not on the Senate Republican cut list. The Governor went out of his way to make that cut.”
After two years in operation, the bureau appears to have fallen short of its mandate and is providing less than comprehensive oversight of the fiduciaries it is mandated to watchdog.
Janis Schock had complained that a San Bernardino conservator, Ron Olund, had breached his fiduciary duties to Maxine Douglas, who is Schock’s mother, allowing numerous bills to go unpaid and utilities to be shut off. She reported that Douglas’s home nearly went into foreclosure as Olund neglected to pay the home association fees for several months. She also alleged that Olund had deliberately isolated her mother from family and friends.
The Douglas conservatorship is being heard in San Bernardino Probate Judge Michael Welch’s court. A recent Sentinel article raised concerns that Welch may have perjured himself in another conservatorship proceeding. Other questions have arisen as to Welch’s property dealings and Welch has refused to respond to queries as to whether he or other, undisclosed parties are paying back his multiple home loans
.
The closing of Schock’s complaint by PFB analyst Bigelow was brought to the attention of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Consumer Affairs legal counsel Gary Duke expressed dismay at what Bigelow had done and quickly concluded that she had signed off on the complaint “in error.” The Schock complaint was subsequently reopened.
The complaint was then assigned to an investigator within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Janis Schock reports that investigator Jane Valdez subsequently told her that no action would be taken. According to Schock, Valdez did not deny the allegations contained within Schock’s documented complaint. Schock was told that her complaint would go to file, to be reviewed should other complaints come in on Olund which “show a trend of misconduct.”
Schock questions the thinking behind this. “If someone drives drunk and runs someone down, do they not get prosecuted until they do it a second or third time?” she asks.
The Sentinel has reviewed actions taken by the bureau as well as interviewed a number of complaints. A picture has emerged of an agency which is under-funded, under-staffed, and has consequently failed to perform the duties it is chartered to attend to. In the face of inquiries from the press and public, it has repeatedly attempted to obscure its activities and the outcome or premature closure of its investigations.
The PFB, which currently has one full time employee and one half time bureau chief, maintains a board of seven members. At the present time, two professional fiduciaries — Lisa Berg and Daniel Stubbs — sit on the board, as well as supervising probate investigator Sharon O’Neill and two public members. Two seats remain vacant, including a seat reserved for a representative from a nonprofit organization advocating on behalf of the elderly. A recent board meeting found the members focused on concerns about raising more revenue for the bureau, which has taken out two loans totaling over a million dollars in order to stay solvent. The bureau reported that $357,000 for the current year covered only two staff positions and that a mere $50,000 was allotted for enforcement. The minutes reflect concerns that “one big case would break the budget.”
In its first annual report, the PFB reports making no investigations and no referrals to law enforcement. Adding veils of obscurity to its functioning, the PFB refused to supply this information when the Sentinel inquired as to these statistics. Rather, legal counsel Gary Duke stated that this information was not discloseable, citing government code 6254 (f). When the Sentinel persisted, the PFB stopped responding to Public Records Act requests. The Public Records Act mandates a response within twenty days.
In fact, the information which Gary Duke refused to disclose is readily available to the public in the DCA’s annual report,which is on line.
Promises by the DCA to produce documents have also gone unfulfilled. Last summer, the Sentinel had requested input from the DCA as to the cost to the state of the bureau’s efforts with regard to Redlands-based conservator Melodie Scott, who has been the subject of numerous complaints from family members of individuals under her care. Scott’s professional fiduciary license was the first and only such to be denied by the head of the Department of Consumer Affairs after contested hearings last year in Oakland Administrative court. In a response in August of this year, DCA Press Officer Russ Heimerich promised to research the financial impact to the state and to respond with the requested details. At the time of going to press, he has not done so.
Joseph Quattrochi, Jr., met with a similar lack of accountability in his dealings with the Professional Fiducary Board. His complaint to the PFB alleged criminal misconduct by Melodie Scott and was submitted over a year ago. He states he has received no response whatsoever from the bureau. The Sentinel has reviewed a number of emails sent by Quattrochi to Gil DeLuna, head of the PFB, spanning several months, in which he repeatedly requested a response to his complaint and also expressed bewilderment as to why Melodie Scott was not in jail. Quattrochi, whose father had been under a conservatorship with Melodie Scott, has lodged a lawsuit in federal court against the former conservator.
Gina Rilke, whose husband was also under a conservatorship with Melodie Scott, has expressed frustration that her report to the Professional Fiduciary Board also went unanswered. When the Department of Consumer Affairs, via Gary Duke, declined to state whether or not the agency had contacted law enforcement when Melodie Scott persisted in advertising herself as a professional fiduciary after her license had been denied, Gina Rilke went to the Redlands Police to make the report. In a Catch-22 like maneuver, she was then informed by the responding officer, Eric Strobaugh, that only the DCA could make such a report.
The Professional Fiduciaries Act details that such advertising by an unlicensed party constitutes a misdemeanor.
Rilke reports that in a recent conversation with Duke he told her that her complaint to the bureau is moot at this time, given that Melodie Scott is unlicensed. Misstating the powers of the Professional Fiduciary Bureau, which include contacting law enforcement, Rilke writes that Duke told her that “denying/taking away a license is really all the power the Bureau has to discipline any violations.” Says Rilke: “I told him that I had tried for three hours to have a police report filed, but the officer insisted that it was the bureau’s responsibility to follow up on [such] violations—Mr. Duke said that he had heard from others that officers at the Redlands police department had told them the same thing. Duke said it really is the law enforcement agency’s responsibility to deal with it, but they don’t because they have other things that are more pressing from their point of view.”
Rilke also has alleged Scott stole more than sixty thousand dollars during her tenure as conservator of Rilke’s husband, who is disabled.
Gary Duke has informed the Sentinel that the Bureau made an “economic” decision and chose not to investigate the criminal allegations contained in the numerous reports the bureau received on Scott. “We thought we had enough on her in terms of lying on her application,” he stated in a recent interview. By declining to investigate criminal allegations, the bureau lessened the likelihood that she would be prosecuted in criminal court.
Scott’s license denial is under appeal and is scheduled to be heard in Sacramento Superior court in December. Sources close to Scott state that she remains confident that the judge will grant her a license.
Lauren Collins also reported Conservator Stevan Chandler to the Professional Fiduciary Bureau last June and received no response. In the intervening months, Chandler has informed the family that they have less than six months before they lose their home, due to a reverse mortgage placed on the home to pay for the conservatorship. Jeanette Spence, who has multiple sclerosis, has never had a capacity determination and the family has insisted that the conservatorship is completely unnecessary. While physically disabled due to her illness, Spence was alert and lucid during an interview with the Sentinel last year and clearly stated she wanted the conservatorship ended. “Chandler just wants my money,” she said.
Carolyn Perkins, whose parents were under a conservatorship with professional fiduciary Linda Banta has told the Sentinel that she was discouraged from filing a complaint by former Professional Fiduciary Bureau employee Janice Nance. Perkins alleges Nance told her it wouldn’t make any difference. Says Perkins, “Janice very definitively told me not to send a complaint to her but to complain to the judge. I was devastated at the time because I had carefully read the code of ethics and realized conservator Linda Banta had purposefully, deliberately and egregiously violated them, particularly with regard to emotional well-being and family connections.”
Echoing widespread concerns which resulted in the California Legislature passing the act which called the bureau into being, Perkins said, “Of course, I didn’t bother to write the judge because the judge has been complicit all along.”
Mar 30, 2021 @ 12:23:55
Please send a contact email to tsrad1@outlook.com so we can talk about this
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Mar 24, 2021 @ 16:08:49
I would like to talk with you about the Hitchman Fiduciaries. My family has been deeply affected by their words and actions. I would like to offer my help to anyone of you. Any way that I can. We can’t just let this go. Let them get away with it. Its illegal and so corrupt. Lee Ann Hitchman is the mind behind on all of this madness sadness. I want to help with way over due Justice. Would anyone else like to help? In anyway possible? We need to all get together and stand together. I guarentee that our voices will be heard. And our stories will be told. On a way bigger scale that you can think. Please join me. Stand with me. And I’ll stand with you. We are not alone in this. Be strong and brave. Theres help….
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Mar 15, 2021 @ 21:39:34
Hello. I’m Honey. I have question for all of you. How come no one here posted any reviews online about these people and their business. And all the corrupt business that they do. That can help. Let your voices be heard. Let the world know the truth. Your story. If all of us stand together. They will hear. All over social media. How many of you been affected by this the Hitchman Fiduciaries? Leave reviews tell your story short or long. It matters. I’ll stand with you. Be strong and brave. Let our voices and stories be heard and read. I would also like to say that I’m so sorry for all the pain sorrow and difficult times the Hitchman Fiduciares has cause. Their abuse of power. Wow they have caused so much damage to so many lives. I hope that some of you have healed. I know that others will never. Stay strong who knows what this can led to. Let the world know your story.
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Mar 11, 2020 @ 17:40:44
Please watch Netflix 2nd season episode 5 Guardian,Inc. Sad to report Leeann Hitchman and Bruce Hitchman are still up to their dirty dealings!!!! And now they have brought their adult children in on the deal! Hopefully soon they will be accountable for something!!! The laws in California are changing and soon financial fraud will be considered criminal and all the dirty dealers will reap their just and way over due JUSTICE!!!!!! C.A.R.E. Is affecting change!!! If you agreed to settle to get out of the financial depleating grip of a guardian conservator or professional fiduciary and agreed not to sue them for damages! These in itself is illegal and soon there
will be recourse against this immoral and illegal negotiation!!!! Keep fighting the whole Hitchman gang will be stopped and prosecuted!!!! United and Strong our day will come!!!!!
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Nov 08, 2019 @ 22:53:03
Hello it has been over a year since I have shared on this site. My life was forever changed and altered and harmed by LeeAnn Hitchman!!! Even all these years later I’m still affected!! Yet I lead and have resourcefully accomplished a good life for myself! I am encouraged by all the new advocacy groups and the laws that have been changed or added! A new law to prevent the outright undervalued sale of the beneficiary or conservatees home is fantastic!!! Linda Kincaid and CARE is an excellent advocate for elder and conservator abuse! Just listen to a panel discussion sponsored by R.E.S.C.U.E.. Dr. Beth Ribet from UCLA. My story started almost 14 yrs ago and all of you who found this site and posted and spoke to me of your mutual problems with the Hitchmans encouraged me to stay strong and carry on! My hope for today is that your struggles have lessened and yet your will and search for justice has continued! The team of LeAnn and Bruce Hitchman will someday soon be stopped and prosecuted for all the damage they have done to peoples lifes!!! Past Present and Future!! United we stand!!! New email for me matissemontego11@yahoo.com or post updates here on this site!!!!
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Sep 27, 2018 @ 02:42:33
The article in the Orange County Register is a start and the comments are uniting and hopeful!! Read and comment!! UNITED and PUBLIC!!!!!
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Sep 23, 2018 @ 15:00:14
Front page of the OC Register today 9/23/18.
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Sep 11, 2018 @ 13:41:08
I don’t think I am wrong, it was dated February 22, 2011. My case goes back to 2008 sadly I was one of if not the first of Leeann Hitchmans victims!!! A little bird told me and I hope it’s true, that there is going to be an article in the Orange County Register this coming Sunday 9/16/18. Hopefully it will be the first of many exposing the injustices of this rampant country wide abuse! It definitely does not start and end with the Hitchmans, there is the courts, the attorneys… but this relatively new position of Professional Fiduciary Trustee needs to be examined. The abuse of power with no accountability or discipline needs to be exposed. So I wait for the article on Sunday!! There is for me still a lot of hope that this madness can be contained and stopped before more innocent people become victims!!!
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Sep 11, 2018 @ 09:17:33
I checked commenting….I dont see any postings about Baker…are you sure you posted them here? I will keep looking but nothing is showing in deleted comments either.
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Sep 10, 2018 @ 14:17:49
I don’t seem to see my, Matisse Baker, replies made before my replacement trustee Diane Davies wrote her remark. Dated March 7, 2012. I choose Ms. Davies as my professional fudiciary trustee, after LeeAnn Hitchman finally resigned. I will stay on top of this growing story of abuse! And I offer my assistance to anyone to help advance the goal of bringing Leeann Hitchman the justice she deserves!!!!
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Sep 05, 2018 @ 15:37:23
Sally and Matisse- you both are up my alley. I would like your thoughts in hindsight so I don’t make those mistakes that are avoidable going forward. Matisse, I am working on an email for you now. Sally- I think my statement here explains why I am using anonymity currently. I think Ms. Reed, that you would be a great welcomed wralth of knowledge and I would really appreciate the opportunity to speak with you more as well. Either electronically or in person. I just don’t want to give up my legal strategy to the opposing party or make it easily available to them online- if that makes sense? My email is still on my second post. I hadn’t even thought of doing that, if it wasn’t for you! Still makes it easy to find out who I am, however it will come out today. So, as things move a long, and if there are many of you suspicious of some really hinky business going on in that court house between them, possibly a few clerks, a probate examiner or 2, a couple of judges, definitely them and their cousel, the repeatedly court appointed GAL E.B. That we’re all so fond of (jk-complete sarcasm) He gets appointed by the court which implies he knows his shit, then totally blows at his responsibilities and goes on to recommend the Hitchmans- which, maybe if they feel like it, put on a good face for a few months, but later, make themselves unavailable and completely difficult to work with. Everything OPPOSITE, literally, as if it’s intentional- perhaps Freudian- IDFC why or where it comes from- they make a promise to provide a product at a quality and standard, then they fail. They need an extension of time- that they claim is neither their fault nor their responsibility for it happening, but it is their job to fix it- HELLO??!! That’s incredibly inconsistent right there! Ha! My list of these inconsistencies is long. If there is a circle of kickbacks, etc going on- we have the opportunity to become whistleblowers. Who knows how many and where else this is happening. Bad enough the H’s practice THROUGHOUT our great state which is like the 3rd largest in the nation! Something must be done to bring them to justice and I am willing to do what I can.
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Sep 02, 2018 @ 22:07:01
That’s how they operate in every case! Take your money, inheritance or what ever they can, then force the sale of your home to pay all their “people”, court appointed extras that were never needed, and leave you broke. The Hitchmans scammed over 1.5 million from us just because we asked them to quit. It’s a pattern, premeditated and very illegal.In some cases their abuse has caused many to develop major health issues due to the stress, and even death. The courts are crooked, I suspect some judges get a piece of the pie. Problem is, after the fact, none of us has any money left to try to fight the theives! So who is going to stop this? Certainly not any state agency, county programs, social services or anyone I know! I’ve tried them all. Someone needs to get this out on social media and get the people angry. Take it to the news! It’s all I have. I’m caring for my husband on hospice, after three years of caring for my Dad with Alzheimer’s. I’m beat and don’t have the time to or energy to do this. Let the people know!
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Sep 02, 2018 @ 20:09:11
Yes anonymous I can go after their accounting. But after I finally got them out of my life I couldn’t afford anymore attorney fees to go after them. Since my case was a special needs cases and I hired them along with my attorney. They then used those trust funds of my 20 yr. lifetime partner to fight me. And in a weird unfortunate way my parents past within a year of eachother and had to use that special needs trust to fight and pay my attorney we eventually forced them to resign after they sold my home which was intended by partner to be my life time home. Something must be done!!! I’m here to help in anyway I can!!!! matissemontego11@yahoo.com
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Aug 24, 2018 @ 11:24:51
Sally Reed- please email me at mindfulseeker@outlook.com
I can’t share those details at this time publicly, but I promise it will not be a waste of your time. Thank you in advance!
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Aug 23, 2018 @ 14:48:32
May I ask who you are and why you are asking this? I have answers to all of it but not sure I am willing to share with Anonymous.
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Aug 23, 2018 @ 05:37:32
HEY EVERYONE!
I would like to ask everyone that has lost their money to the Hitchmans Fiduciaries Trusteeship if they have ever challenged them as your trustees? Did you have someone to do kind of a forensic work on their accounting? Were there events that “came up” while you waited for disbursement that extended it for a much longer period? In hindsight now, does that make you think that they may not have been working in good faith to benefit the trust and beneficiaries?
I would really appreciate your time to respond to this. Blessings to all!
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Jul 24, 2018 @ 13:45:02
The Orange County Probate Superior Court recognizes fraudulent trustee appointments as genuine/legal.
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Jul 11, 2018 @ 14:38:28
F.Y.I. everyone, Leeann now controls $90,000,000.00 in trust monies, according to her public fiduciary license info.!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jul 11, 2018 @ 14:08:02
Ok Leeann Hithchman and Bruce Hitchman!!! How can you continue to destroy peoples lifes? You are supposed to be looking out for the benefit of the ones in your care as a supposed trust worthy trustee. Instead you are sucking and squeezing the life out of them emotionally and physically and financially!!!!! No concern just your own financial gain! You learned and sharpened your fangs on my case! Now after me, how many more individuals and families have to be destroyed by the two of you before you are forced to stop! Collectively we will not stop! I will not stop! Someday, hopefully soon, you will be brought to justice for all the injustices you have caused! A professional fudiciary license will no longer be your personal license to steal and do such personal harm!!!! United and Public!!!! matissemontego@yahoo.com
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Jul 03, 2018 @ 23:56:54
It is pretty much so cal system that is so corrupt. I have no faith in the system here and am looking to sell my home and move. My parents left me and my brother over 1.5 million, most all of it has gone to lawyers, Hitchmans, Becker, and numerous others that were court appointed for no reason. Blood suckers. My parents worked very hard to make sure we were taken care of. It’s so sad.
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Jul 03, 2018 @ 21:36:38
Spot on Lindsey! Thieves and greedy, evil people, along with Becker!
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Jul 03, 2018 @ 19:17:12
No college for the grandkids. Not even a penny for food. No health insurance. Nothing for the family. Only the hitchmans laugh at you all the way to the bank to deposit another half million that they have stolen from your family. The lawyers lie for them. The judges lie for them. Probate court in Orange County is a joke. It’s a waste of money to fight them. They are all in on it. Court clerks, judges, all of them. They smile at each other while they rip you off. What a shame it is to love some one and watch thier last wished ignored and pissed on. What is wrong with the morals and beliefs of these evil monsters. What happened to our justice system in Orange County. Something really stinks in our courts. There is no justice. Don’t bother the police or the DA, because they won’t help either. Law in the USA is a joke.
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Jul 03, 2018 @ 18:07:36
Picture yourself in piss soaked ratty jeans with a torn dirty shirt, starving for lack of food, up all night scared you might be beat up by a stranger while living under an overpass. Once you lived in a 2 Million dollar home. Is this your dream? Then hire the Hitchmans.
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Jun 27, 2018 @ 21:50:57
And there they go again. I really have no idea how they can still be in business, or how they can be stopped. I’m sorry this has happened to you. Our system(court) is the worst. We lost our inheritance to pay for Becker and the Hitchmans, along with other court appointed lawyers and more. More than two million we lost, ending up with very little to help us get by in our senior years. Our court case took 6 years! All because we asked the Hitchmans to step down as conservators because of neglect and abuse. They must be billionaires by now! So cal courts are seriously corrupt and negligent. Again, so sorry.
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Jun 27, 2018 @ 14:19:56
MATISSE BAKER, I have had the misfortune of recently being “dismissed” (this week) by the horrible Leeann and her bully of a husband. I have been with this family for 18 years as a caregiver and massage technician/therapist for my client who is in a vegetative state. I took care of my client’s mother until she needed to be placed in a board and care facility (that I found and vetted). At that time there were other alarming things (not to do with the hitchmans) happening that I brought attention to the sister who took over conservatorship of both her mother and her sister. The sister and I forged a friendship and she told me that I was the only person she trusted to be with her sister. When she turned trusteeship over to the Hitchmans I was of course concerned. She forwarded to me the emails she exchanged with Leeann regarding retaining me to which Leeann agreed. When the Hitchmans took over, they had me jump through some hoops which I had no problem doing at all! She requested that I send her a service agreement which I drew up, signed and sent to her (it was never signed by her and sent back to me). I was asked to obtain liability insurance but when I asked the hospital where my client resides if that was necessary, I was told it wasn’t and so sent an email to Leeann that said I would still be willing to obtain a policy if they demand I do so but if the hospital didn’t require it – I didn’t see the point. She also asked me to send her my resume – which I did. I do not recall ever being asked to furnish a license. I do not have one. I have always been forthcoming with any client(s) regarding that …. my clients mother as well as her sister are fully aware I do not have one … I have a vague recollection of a conversation with Leeann and I’m pretty sure I made her aware of that fact. I have kept all my email correspondance with her and there is no mention of it. I sent in my invoice earlier this month as normal and when I didn’t receive the check I made a phone call. I got Bruce on the phone (I had never previously spoken with him) who proceeded to tell me that because I did not have a license, I am no longer allowed to work with my client and they would no longer pay me. He was rude, condescending, belligerent, and quite the bully. He told me that he looked me up and saw that my license had expired a couple years ago. I told him that was impossible because In the 18 years I’ve been with this family, I’ve never had one and Leeann was well aware of that fact. He protested the amount I was being paid and I said I would be willing to negotiate and he said no. I asked him to retain me as I go through some ECU’s to get to the point where I could take the licensing exam and he said no. I own my own complacency after being with this family for so long and feeling as if I had some measure of security. It is my belief that they are using this issue as an excuse and even if I had my license, there would have been a different excuse. They say on their website that they follow their clients (and families) wishes – clearly they do not. I will be emailing my clients sister and informing her that I will no longer be working with her sister. After my long association with this family I am deeply saddened (and of course concerned for my own financial health as I’m not as young as I used to be and it is a bit harder these days!) BUT I will put on my big girl pants and move forward. As I am the only one who sees my client I am understandably concerned about her. I’m sure you know that no matter how great a facility and staff is – if there isn’t someone dropping in on a regular basis, it’s human nature to cut a few corners. There are still some of the same staff that has been there for as long as I have and they are great but the turnover in facilities like this is huge. It pains me to think she will be forgotten. I certainly don’t trust Leeann and her bully husband to check in with her regularly. So sorry for the long rant. It is obvious to me that you all have had much more horrible treatment by these reprehensible people. I feel for all of you and I hope there is something that can be done to stop them.
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May 11, 2018 @ 13:54:21
Unbelievably Leeann Hitchman now handles $35,000,000.00 in trust monies. Equally incredible is that Bruce Hitchman her husband handles $34,000,000.00. (public record). And nothing has changed they are still as corrupt and abusive as ever. The question still remains how many more families will they destroy and when will they be stopped and exposed for all their abuses? When?…..
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Mar 13, 2016 @ 03:14:18
Dear Sally Reed, I am sorry for Dad and your whole family!! Leeann Hicthman and her cohort of a husband Bruce Hitchman and then of course their attorney Eric Becker need to be stopped!!!!!!!!!! They rob you blind and then you have to sign not to sue to get rid of them!!!! Unbelievable!!! But for the families who have had these terrible people come in and destroy the life of a loved and the entire family! So, Sally I know this has been a long haul for you but I hope you will still campaign against elder and trust abuse!! Thanks and good night! Matisse Baker
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Mar 12, 2016 @ 21:27:55
Well, Becker and his darlings , Hitchmans,have succeeded. They managed to wipe out my Mom and Dads entire estate. We agreed not to sue them for neglect and abuse if they would just quit, which my Dad asked of them. On it went, litigation after another, finally getting a temp judge to sign off on another huge chunk of money for what we don’t know. So now Dad is in a nursing home, will be out of money soon to pay for it, and is so dementia riddled that I cannot care for him. Meanwhile the Hitchmans and the Beckers live in their huge homes with nannies and maids paying with Dads money. These people need to be stopped, investigated and jailed. My faith in our “justice” system is gone and I will never trust in it again. This is beyond horrific, what these people are allowed to do. I have no idea what is going to happen with Dad. Thanks a lot greedy a- holes.
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Dec 02, 2015 @ 13:56:07
You can try to fire them, by law they should simply accept! We tried, it cost my father hundreds of thousands and two years to get rid of them AND pay their lawyers’ fees!
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Dec 02, 2015 @ 13:55:46
Yes but it would be best for you to email me your # and I will call you. matissemontego@yahoo.com I am living elsewhere for a while. Looking forward to hearing from you. Matisse
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Dec 02, 2015 @ 12:51:33
Matisse Baker – do you have a current number I can contact you at?
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Dec 02, 2015 @ 11:41:50
Sally Reed- did you have the same experience?
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Dec 02, 2015 @ 11:37:13
Thank you SO much for your post. I’m scared and really don’t know what to do at this point. This is so disheartening my grandfathers attorney of 30 years said these were ok ppl. What do I do now? I was left the trust because I am a working single mother and my grandfather wanted to help his family. I don’t know where to turn as I have no money to hire an attorney. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
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Nov 20, 2015 @ 20:55:08
What would you like to know?
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Nov 20, 2015 @ 18:17:29
I am so sorry for you sm!! My name is Matisse Baker. I’m no longer at the phone number I posted before. Leeann has never reaped the terrible reward that she should have because when she is done with you you no longer have any money left to expose her. Her what a pair husband became a trustee/conservator after my case because of all the money Leann started racking in. She is still in good standing with the courts and there is always a question of their involvement also. Don’t know your exact situation but as you can see from just the posting here, you are in for trouble. Maybe since it has just happened you can do something to stop her immediately. Show the court these comments and request a new trustee. Not easy as we have all found out. Once she has her hooks in you, but try. The reason there are not more people on here is because most of the people she harms are older and don’t have families to help support them. It pains me to think about all the innocent and unprotected people that she is abusing!! I am now 55 and I am still recovering from all the turmoil she caused in my life. Her and Eric Becker her attorney at the time, were quite the tag team to me financially. I am yes young and intelligent and would love to speak out in a forum of any kind against these people. As I’ve said before they must be stopped and how many more do they have to wrong and abuse physically and emotionally and what they are really after financially!!!!! United and vocal they need to be exposed!!!!!!
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Nov 20, 2015 @ 13:28:54
Hi, I stumbled upon this board and am VERY concerned. Is it possible to get more information? My family trust was just transferred to the Hitchmans.
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Jan 04, 2015 @ 02:33:59
Here is the outcome of my fathers problem with trying to fire the Hitchmans . After a long two years, so many filings, objections, blah blah, it turns out that Dad’s last caregiver, Amany Simmonds, set dad up to hire a certain Charles Brown to be his lawyer. They had some kind of relationship going on that they both deny. Mr Browm came to my house and threatend me, at one point even stalked dad and me, waiting for us with Amany at dads doctors office. I know this is all very vague but in the end, the Hitchmans and Becker were
Awarded so much just because they wouldn’t step down and fought it in court. It is a consevatees right to fire the conservators, but now it has cost Dad everything,
Like the stories here, now i get it. There is so much more to this story it is truely unreal.Dad, me and my brother are now wondering how we will be able to care for dad and why these people( lawyers included) have been able to take everything away from our family. I wish we had recourse but we are flat out of options,as far as I know. Any ideas are very welcome!
.i forgot to mention that my dads house was never taken care of, is filthy and in need of serious repairs! Exactly what are “conservators” supposed to do? Certainly no “conserving” here! Yes Leeane, I am telling it like it is.I know you will read this, so defend yourself!
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Sep 27, 2013 @ 16:30:25
How many more have to be used and abused by the Hitchmans before they are stopped?!!!! This site appears to be the only site that shows their wrong doings. We as a group need to put in a complaint or complaints so that they are red flagged and stopped. The Hitchmans are favored by the courts and judges as recommended conservators. Once they take over they and their attorneys rob you blind until you have nothing left and then they resign before there is court case, knowing full well you don’t have the money to take it to a trial and expose them. That is their financial wrong doing. The other side of their abuse which is so neglectful and abusive, that is the Hitchmans treatment physically and emotionally of the the very ones they are supposed to be caring for. Between them they handle millions of dollars of trust monies which they and they alone have total access to and they use your monies to fight against you putting large amounts of money into their own and of course their attorneys pocket books. And if they force you to sell your home, as they did in my case, they will only use the realtor they are in cahoots with even if he knows nothing about the area in which you live. And they will under sell it just to gain access to more funds!! They need to be exposed!! How many are out there that don’t have a voice and or family to help fight and support them in being another innocent soul who has gotten the Hitchman hooks in them. We need to unite now the numbers are growing. Every time I read another comment here it is about the Hitchmans maybe Ms. Phelan needs to do a follow up story and expose these evil hearted people. There is a very sad story here and we need to make our voices heard! I will do anything to help in anyway I can to expose these people and STOP them from any further abuse!!
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Sep 27, 2013 @ 02:11:51
Wow!!! Wish my grandparents would have looked into this before hiring Hitchmanns. They are Horrible dis-honest people. I do believe in karma. These people should suffer for this.
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Jun 19, 2013 @ 23:55:34
This is a follow up in regards to my Dads situation with the Hitchmans. We expected a continuance yesterday, turned out they offered a settlement. They will resign if we don’t sue them for monies they have accrued. So much is wrong here. W are confidant we can win if we take it to trial but then it all drags on for months and months. I will keep you all posted as to our decision and outcome.
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Jun 13, 2013 @ 18:04:59
Yes Sally. I did find your court date and time earlier today. Please call me 909-585-1869. I am a now 53 yr.old woman who was financially and emotionally used and abused by Ms. Hitchman whom I unfortunately chose as my professional fiduciary trustee. UNITED and PUBLIC is possibly the only way to STOP her.
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Jun 13, 2013 @ 17:39:21
All comments are held for moderation on this site.
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Jun 13, 2013 @ 03:31:51
What happened to my reply to Matisse about my Dads court date, time place?
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Jun 12, 2013 @ 23:23:25
Dads court date is the 18 th, The Lamoreaux Justice Center, Dept. L73, 1:30 pm. The Hitchmans are planning on another continuance and then taking it to Trial. If that happens, it will consume all of my Dads money. That leaves none left for his care. Any show of support is so important! Thank you for asking and let me know if you want more info.
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Jun 12, 2013 @ 15:05:24
Mamasol What time and where?
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Jun 12, 2013 @ 14:55:27
Mamasol Which court and what time?
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May 24, 2013 @ 01:53:26
Capo mama, That was my father.They placed him in a mental ward, then sent him to assisted living(lockdown). His attorney took him out after two weeks and brought him to my home where he is now. He is sweet, kind, stable man, albeit, his dementia is a problem for him when he is under stress. He can live with me forever , but he wants to go to his home.His lawyer is fighting to get rid of the Hitchmans but evil seems to be hanging on.We will fight for his rights as long as it takes. He has been in the same clothes since has was taken away in cuffs.They won’t let him in his house(they changed all the locks and only She has the key). Last court day, they stated that he needs to be put into a mental facility, lockdown. If he cannot enter his home for a certain amount of time, they can sell his house. They did say they were going to have to do so.My dad is in not a mental case! I have backup from his doctor and the court investigator! These evil people have got to be stopped and pay for what they have done to the conservatives they have abused.Anyone wishing to help dad by appearing in court to testify on his behalf is very welcome! The next court date for him is June 18. This will be to get rid of the Hitchmans. Thank you for caring……
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Mar 14, 2013 @ 06:21:20
Lee Ann Hitchman brought my sweet neighbor to the breaking point. He had a caregiver independent of the Hitchmans that he loved (and I saw him thriving in her care), and the Hitchmans had a restraining order placed against her yesterday. They daily send someone to sit in their car on our street for an hour or so (and withdraw my neighbor’s money for about $90/day in “care” even though they don’t do anything). Today, they came and changed all the locks on his house and my neighbor freaked out. He ended up being arrested and taken to a hospital as a “threat to himself and others.” Does anybody have any more concrete issues about the Hitchmans that I can share with my neighbor’s attorney?
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Nov 20, 2012 @ 20:47:09
Leeann Hitchman is a thief. She is using her power as a conservator to steal thousands of dollars from the persons she oversees. How far this fraud goes is what we are investigating now. Are Judges involved, other lawyers, nursing homes? Kickbacks?
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Mar 07, 2012 @ 16:16:57
It is unfortunate that the increased requirements for licensure and continuing education for professional fiduciaries would result in such a shortfall of oversight and enforcement with regard to negligence and wrongdoing by licensed professional fiduciaries. It was a grand idea in 2007, and something that the Professional Fiduciary Association of California (PFAC) was urging for a number of years. In the past year the PFB was in a struggle for its very existence after the legislature sought to cut its funding. The problem is that the existence of the PFB give the appearance of oversight and therefore a false sense of security for those seeking a professional fiduciary. The only recourse is to file suit against the fiduciary (many do now carry insurance, or in the case of a conservatorship, are bonded) or report their conduct to the Adult Protective Services and/or the local District Attorney, and copy any filed complaints to the PFB and to PFAC. Ring the bell!
On another point, I do not understand why $357,000 is needed to support one clerical position and one half time manager. I can almost bet Angela Bigelow is not receiving $150 – 200,000/year!
@ Rebecca: My understanding is that Leeann Hitchman is currently heading the Orange County Chapter of PFAC. Have you notified them of Ms. Hitchman’s conduct??
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Nov 25, 2011 @ 11:18:14
We stand united and file a class action suit against the state bureau for their lack of diligence and urgency to do a thorough investigation and prosecute these offenders. And, we shouldn’t stop at this juncture but see that there are federal laws that protect the victims and give the family members a legal way to do this. Only when this is done can we see justice for the crimes against are elderly.
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Nov 25, 2011 @ 11:05:01
My mom was not only abused physically and financially by this conservator Leeann Hitchman, but also by the conservators attorney Eric Becker. The doctor who cared for my mom was responsible as well, for my mom suffered Sepsis after being denied treatment for a UTI infection. Only upon a skin injury did he treat her with antibiotics, but by then it was too late. These 3 people should be prosecuted, not only lose their license but be held on criminal charges. If not judged to face the consequences of their actions in this lifetime they will when God judges them.
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Nov 15, 2011 @ 07:35:08
Fight us? Ya right. $uckersssssssssss!
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Oct 01, 2011 @ 00:30:27
Sharon O Neill works in the Superior Court Of Santa Clara County Probate Division she is a Supervisor of the Court Imvestigators. She and Herlinda Acevedo a SCC CI are EX Santa Clara County Public Guardians!
Herlinda Acevedo was the court investigator that interviewed my mother whom the county targetted for her assets. Her reports were totally outrageous and 100% fabricated stating my mother does not want to live in her own home and wants the county to be her conservator! They have TO BE STOPPED!
The queen of the elder abuse w/o question is BETTY MALKS!
I AM SUING THESE BITCHES!
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Aug 03, 2011 @ 17:38:36
So, how do we fight back?
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May 16, 2011 @ 11:41:28