How Elderly New Yorkers are Financially Exploited

HOW ELDERLY NEW YORKERS ARE FINANCIALLY EXPLOITED

Financial exploitation, as defined under New York State Social Services Law Section 473 (6)(g), is the improper use of an adult’s funds, property, or resources by another individual. It includes these crimes: fraud, false pretenses, embezzlement, conspiracy, forgery, falsifying records, coerced property transfers, and denial of access to assets. The following are examples of elder […]

NY Nursing Home’s Lawsuit Against Power of Attorney Dismissed

NY Nursing Home's Lawsuit Against Power of Attorney Dismissed

Read this story about how a NY nursing home’s lawsuit against a power of attorney got dismissed. If you need help with elder law, give us a call. This collection action, which arose from a nursing home debt, was commenced by the County of Monroe against the Estate of Janet Patterson and Barbara Robinson,  a 78-year-old […]

What are the NY Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation Laws?

What are the NY Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation Laws

The New York Penal Code and New York Social Services Law protect New York victims from elder abuse and financial exploitation with civil and criminal remedies. Civil Financial Exploitation NY CLS Soc Serv § 473 (2020) ; NY EXEC §837-f-1 (2022) SOCIAL SERVICES LAW ARTICLE 9-B.  ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES TITLE 1.  PROTECTIVE SERVICES § 473. […]

How NY Nursing Homes Violate Debt Collection Laws

How NY Nursing Homes Violate Debt Collection Laws

During the nursing home admissions process, caregivers must often sign lengthy admission agreements (“AA”) along with many other documents. The caregiver often has no opportunity to negotiate the AA even if she or he has the time, attention, and ability to read and understand it. The AA often includes terms that attempt to hold caregivers […]

Enhanced Nursing Home Rating System Has Staffing and Turnover Data

Enhanced Nursing Home Rating System Has Staffing and Turnover Data

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) launched its enhanced Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating System on July 27, 2022 which integrates data nursing homes report on their weekend staffing rates for nurses and information on annual turnover among nurses and administrators. CMS research shows that higher nurse turnover is associated with lower quality […]

NY Home Health Aide Pleads Guilty to Larceny

NY Home Health Aide Pleads Guilty to Larceny

Brigid M. Buseman, also known as Brigid McKirchy, of Clarence, New York was sentenced  before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to five years of probation. As part of her sentence, the 31-year-old defendant was ordered to participate in a drug treatment program. While working as a home health aide, she  falsified personal checks that […]

Home Health Care Provider Who Stole Over $1 Million From Elderly Clients Sentenced to Prison

Home Health Care Provider Who Stole Over $1 Million From Elderly Clients Sentenced to Prison

Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced Lindsey Allison Kerns, 39, of Mars Hill, N.C., to 45 months in prison, for stealing more than $1 million from two elderly clients in her care. In addition to the prison term , Kerns was ordered to serve three years court supervision and to pay $1,088,554.99 as restitution. […]

Does The Physician-Patient Privilege Apply to NY Guardianship Proceedings?

Does The Physician-Patient Privilege Apply to NY Guardianship Proceedings

Yes, the physician-patient privilege applies to New York Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 (“MHL 81”) guardianship proceedings. In MHL 81 proceedings, the Alleged Incapacitated Person (“AIP) enjoys an absolute right to doctor-patient confidentiality  that precludes admission of his/her medical records or information into evidence unless he/she waives the privilege or has affirmatively placed his/her medical […]

NY Prison Sentence for Defrauding Elderly Victims Out of $2.6 Million

NY Prison Sentence for Defrauding Elderly Victims Out of $2.6 Million

Martin Hogan, 53, of Montreal Canada was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. He was sentenced to serve 111 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. in Rochester, NY.  Between September 2015 and March 2020, Hogan conspired with multiple co-defendants to defraud elderly victims using a fraudulent telemarketing […]