The investigation profiles the case of Virginia Wahab, a then-92-year-old senior who was placed into guardianship in 2016 and denied family visitation at Lourdes Senior Community in Waterford, Michigan. Lourdes filed the petition with the Oakland County Probate Court in Michigan because of a back due bill and a desire for a Medicaid application to be filed. Wahab had given her daughter Mimi Brun a durable power of attorney. At a June 29, 2016 hearing of the petition, Brun was not permitted legal counsel and Wahab was not present. No Michigan statute exists permitting guardianship over a past due bill. Yet Wahab’s POA was tossed out by the presiding Judge Linda Hallmark and attorney and professional guardian Jon Munger was assigned to her.
Munger subsequently denied visitation for Ms. Brun. By June 21, 2018 mother and daughter have not seen each other for two years. Brun’s fight to have her mom released from Lourdes would eventually result in Hallmark issuing an injunction restraining her from entering Lourdes premises, denial of her visitation rights (even when chaperoned by a nun and a locally renowned, retired judge) and a bench warrant from Hallmark’s court for Brun’s arrest. The story also covers the issue from a nationwide perspective and offers advice for families to protect themselves.
Further investgation is indicating that this is not a case in isolation. This is a systemic problem involving at least six fuardians employed by the court and three out of the four judges.
If any family member has experienced an issue with the court, please contact me directly or comment here.
Oakland County Probate Court Reviews
I am an investigative journalist and contributing writer for Tablet Magazine.
Last month we published an in-depth look into a case of guardianship abuse at the Oakland County Probate Courrt.
https://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/264932/guardians-from-hell
The investigation profiles the case of Virginia Wahab, a then-92-year-old senior who was placed into guardianship in 2016 and denied family visitation at Lourdes Senior Community in Waterford, Michigan. Lourdes filed the petition with the Oakland County Probate Court in Michigan because of a back due bill and a desire for a Medicaid application to be filed. Wahab had given her daughter Mimi Brun a durable power of attorney. At a June 29, 2016 hearing of the petition, Brun was not permitted legal counsel and Wahab was not present. No Michigan statute exists permitting guardianship over a past due bill. Yet Wahab’s POA was tossed out by the presiding Judge Linda Hallmark and attorney and professional guardian Jon Munger was assigned to her.
Munger subsequently denied visitation for Ms. Brun. By June 21, 2018 mother and daughter have not seen each other for two years. Brun’s fight to have her mom released from Lourdes would eventually result in Hallmark issuing an injunction restraining her from entering Lourdes premises, denial of her visitation rights (even when chaperoned by a nun and a locally renowned, retired judge) and a bench warrant from Hallmark’s court for Brun’s arrest. The story also covers the issue from a nationwide perspective and offers advice for families to protect themselves.
Further investgation is indicating that this is not a case in isolation. This is a systemic problem involving at least six fuardians employed by the court and three out of the four judges.
If any family member has experienced an issue with the court, please contact me directly or comment here.