Class Action Suit Claims Men Target Elderly With Bogus Estate Planning Services

A class action law suit has been filed against two California men who allegedly took advantage of senior citizens by offering uncessary or unqualified advice regarding estate planning issues:

• The men held scare-tactic seminars in which they promised senior citizens entitlement planning and pre-qualification for Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program.
• Although the two men were not licensed to practice law in California, the plaintiffs allege that the men offered legal advice and estate planning services.
• The plaintiffs who paid for the services claim that the services were expensive, worthless, and sometimes fraudulent.  For example, they allege that prequalification for Medi-Cal is not possible.

See Elizabeth Banicki, ‘Estate Planners’ Ravage Seniors, Class Claims, Courthouse News, March 23, 2010; see also Karen Brady, These are the Estate Planners to Run Away From, Legacy Planner Blog, March 23, 2010 (discussing the fact that one of the men was listed as a certified estate planner by the San Jose Better Business Bureau).

Special thanks to Karen Brady (attorney, Arvada, Colorado) for brining this to my attention.