Visit her at Medway Manor Nursing Home, in Massachusetts. Messages for her via email at JusticeforMargaret@Mail.com

Justice for Margaret Cook

Margaret Cook is an elderly, disabled Massachusetts woman whose property, civil liberties, life savings, and right to the pursuit of happiness as an American citizen have all been taken away.

She is currently held against her will at Medway Manor nursing home, in Massachusetts, despite an independent psych exam which stated that she was competent enough to live at home, with in-home care, as she has desperately asked. She has been stopped from going to her home, even for a Christmas, Thanksgiving or birthday visit, for a year and a half.

See her video statement if you have access to: vimeo.com/395830770

Imagine if you were removed from your home, told you could never return, and held against your will while your property, and every penny from your bank accounts is taken away.

Imagine that your bills and your taxes are up to date. Imagine that you have had no criminal record in your entire life.

Something like this could only happen in some far away country, a place without respect for human rights and freedoms, right?

You would be wrong. There is a woman named Margaret Cook who would like you to know that this tragedy could happen to anyone. She is in the state of Massachusetts, in the United States.

In the Fall of 2018, the elderly Margaret became concerned that there were noises in her house, and it was possible that someone was breaking in. She made multiple calls to the police, and after several calls she was forcibly removed from her home, and brought to a Massachusetts hospital for a psychological evaluation. Responders never considered that she might simply be old, and that her age could be effecting her hearing.

Margaret requested her immediate discharge from the hospital, but instead she was given a “temporary” guardian/conservator, named Lisa Judkins. That “temporary” guardian, who was a stranger to Margaret, proceeded to quickly seize Margaret’s assets. Her bank accounts, totaling tens of thousands, were drained, and the accounts closed. The temporary used the money to pay herself and the nursing home that she forced to Margaret to reside in. The guardian then allied with the nursing home, Medway Manor, in Medway, Massachusetts. Lisa Judkins took Medway Manor’s lawyer as her own, and then paid herself and the nursing home, with Margaret’s forcibly sold assets.

All along, Margaret has objected, pleading that she is competent to manage her own affairs. Every day for the past year and a half, Margaret has demanded to be returned home to her empty house. She has demanded that her daughter be made her guardian/conservator. Not one request made by Margaret has been honored by her “guardian”.

Margaret’s daughter kathleen was shockingly told that she had no say in Margaret’s life, and that Margaret had no say in her own life either. Margaret was forced to use a court appointed lawyer to oppose her own “guardian”, because that “guardian” had taken away all of Margaret’s life savings.

In the Fall of 2018, the elderly Margaret became concerned that there were noises in her house, and it was possible that someone was breaking in. She made multiple calls to the police, and after several calls she was forcibly removed from her home, and brought to a Massachusetts hospital for a psychological evaluation. Responders never considered that she might simply be old, and that her age could be effecting her hearing.

Margaret requested her immediate discharge from the hospital, but instead she was given a “temporary” guardian/conservator, named Lisa Judkins. That “temporary” guardian, who was a stranger to Margaret, proceeded to quickly seize Margaret’s assets. Her bank accounts, totaling tens of thousands, were drained, and the accounts closed. The temporary used the money to pay herself and the nursing home that she forced to Margaret to reside in.

The guardian then allied with the nursing home, Medway Manor, in Medway, Massachusetts. Margaret’s daughter and Margaret presented their case against Lisa Judkins in Worcester court, and pleaded that the judge, Geoffrey R German, honor Massachusetts law and honor Margaret’s constitutional and God given freedoms. They asked why this “temporary” guardian has been allowed to extend her “temporary” guardianship for nearly a year. Massachusetts law explicitly states that an elderly disabled individual has the right to be returned home. It is explicitly stated in Massachusetts law that a disabled person must be in court when major decisions about their life are being made. Instead, Lisa Judkins has never informed Margaret about her own court dates. She has appallingly stated in court that she spends 30 minutes a month with Margaret. She has attempted to force Margaret to take strong anti-psychotic meds, without informing Margaret of that decision. Yet, Margaret’s court appointed lawyer was able to secure an independent psychologist’s statement that Margaret was undoubtedly competent enough to be at home with in-home care.

Margaret’s main home has sat empty for nearly one and a half years. She has been denied the right to return home, even to visit. Margaret is physically able to push herself in a wheel chair, and is not under life support of any kind. Yet, she has been denied the right to spend Christmas, Thanksgiving and her birthday at home with her family, despite her protests in vain.

Inexplicably, this case has remained continuously extended without changes, and the judge has ignored statements about Massachusetts law, seemingly to have little compassion for Margaret. Her family and friends have been criticized for bringing her to court, when it is the law that she be present!

In 2009, the Massachusetts Guardianship Association passed several laws strengthening a patient’s rights. Sadly, these laws have been not just ignored, but have been abused in the opposite direction. See : http://www.massguardianshipassociation.org/information/guardianship-of-an-adult-2/expanded-rights-and-protections-for-adults-with-disabilities/

This vimeo channel was created on Margaret’s desperate request. Margaret asks that her story be known to the world, as she has now been held against her will for 1 1/2 years.Imagine if you were removed from your home, told you could never return, and held against your will while your property and every penny from your bank accounts is taken away.

See : http://www.massguardianshipassociation.org/information/guardianship-of-an-adult-2/expanded-rights-and-protections-for-adults-with-disabilities/

Records of Margaret’s struggles in court are in the public domain. She asks that a show of support be given for her next court session, on the morning of March 12th in Worcester Court.

She is seeking caring civil rights organizations, attorneys, non-profit aid groups, and legislators to help her overcome this great injustice.

Her next court session is the morning of March 12th, at Worcester Family Probate. Journalists and supporters are welcome.

Visit her at Medway Manor Nursing Home, in Massachusetts. Messages for her via email at JusticeforMargaret@Mail.com

Justice for Margaret Cook