CONFIRMED BY ILL. SUPREME COURT– YOU ARE VIEWING THE MOST DANGEROUS BLOG IN ILLINOIS. This blog warranted a 3 year suspension by the ARDC/Jerome Larkin! Mottos: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant". Justice Louis Brandeis ; "If the truth can destroy something, then it deserves to be destroyed" Carl Sagan; "Justice is Truth in Action" Benjamin Disraeli. Illinois uses the ARDC to quash dissenting attorney activist blogs ; "The freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic Governments" — (1776-First Amendment preamble adopted by 8 US colonies)
I have received quite a few complaints about the above case. Of course it involves guardianship and probate and a troubled courtroom. Judge Curtis Lane threatened the two elderly Christian defendants with jail no less than three times for no apparent reason found on the transcripts.
Then, the case went to a jury trial and while all the jurors said they had never been arrested, it turned out according to preliminary reports several jurors in fact had been arrested for misdeameanors such as bad checks and theft and deception.
All of the defendant’s discovery was blocked no less than three times by Judge Curtis L Lane. The victim, Fred Stegall, while obviously incompetent and unable to participate in this litigation, was required to take a deposition where it was clear he was incompetent. He could not recognize one attorney who he had just seen a couple months before, he did not know that the office had moved, he started talking about World War II for no reason and how he did not want to be forced to re enlist. He had no idea where he was or what was going on, but abusive attorneys continued the deposition.
The jury only deliberated for 25 minutes before they found for the Plaintiffs, but apparently they spent most of that time laughing and cracking jokes, according to witnesses sitting right outside the jury room.
The result of this (unfair and unjust) litigation is that the Catholic Church for some reason will gain over 200 acres of farmland and timberland. Since when does a church litigate to obtain land in an estate. They were clearly the aggressors and the plaintiffs.
Judge Curtis L Lane always favored them and their co conspirator, the Galesburg Gun Club.
One person has answered my requests for an explanation of all of this, but after showing him how the case was so very one sided and strange, he declined to comment further. Since he has not agreed to the release of his name, I will keep it confidential for now.
Please read on for the letters that I am sending out to find out what actually is going on with this case.
The behavior of Judge Curtis L Lane is especially egregious. He quashed all the defendants discovery, he quashed all their discovery, witnesses were limited, and we are waiting for the transcripts. The cases are up on appeal.
This is a copy of the letter to the Bishop asking why the Catholic Church is doing this to two elderly Christian ladies.
I hope they all come to Jesus and stop this horrible, horrible litigation. We already have too many false judgements against innocent people in probate.
Thank you for your consideration:
JUSTICE 4 EVERY1, NFP
5534 N. Milwaukee Ave JoAnne Denison, Executive Director Chicago, IL 60630 Cell Phone 773-255-7608 ph 312-553-1300 http://www.justice4every1.com fax 773-423-4455 JoAnne@Justice4Every1.com A social Justice Services NFP since 2014
Bishop Louis Tylka 419 NE Madison Ave Peoria,IL 61603
March 10, 2023
RE: Knox County Case No. 22 PR 12 and 21 MR 21 –Estate of Fred Stegall SEEKING INFORMATION ON KNOX COUNTY COURT CORRUPTION
Dear Bishop Louis Tylka ;
I am the Executive Director of Justice 4 Every1, an Illinois Not for Profit. I run and manage blogs (www.justice4every1.com and http://www.marygsykes.com) regarding corrupt and abusive guardianships in Chicago and in Illinois and nationwide. There are more than 1600 posts on those blogs about corruption in the courts and horrific abuse of the elderly in Guardianship and then their Estates are looted by attorneys and others in decedent’s estates and these blogs are extremely popular with over 300 hits per day.
We are currently seeking information on court corruption in Knox County and in particular in the above cases which involves the Fred Stegall Estate. Mr. Stegall unfortunately passed away in January 2022, leaving over 200 acres of farm and timberland, to Tonny and Penny Williamson, two elderly Christian women who cared for Fred Stegall during his final year and spent at least $115,000 to care for him, because his court appointed guardian Curtis Ford and his Guardian ad Litem appointed by Judge Radmussen refused to give Fred Stegall a dime in living expenses for over one year– no money for food, clothing and utilities, despite the fact that Fred Stegall had some $400,000+ in his bank accounts. Instead, over $60,000 went to court appointed lawyers to drain his estate. This, unfortunately is not uncommon in Probate, and in particular, Guardianship cases where the motto is: target, narcotize to guardianize, drain the estate, and when the money runs out, narcotize the elderly person to death and quickly bury the victim to destroy all traces of evidence the person was abused and drugged.
Anyone over age 50 can fall a victim to our nation’s thousands of probate courts. It is estimated that at any time, some 1.5 million elderly and disabled persons are locked into expensive guardianship proceedings where Estates are billed at rates from $300 to $400+ per hour, which typically drains the Estate quickly and the victim is typically left penniless and on medicaid and food stamps. In one guardianship case in Cook County, Lorraine Phillips, she was in a guardianship for 5 years and attorneys Franciszkowicz and David Martin billed her $4 million estate over $1 million in attorney’s fees. The Illinois appellate court apparently thought this was okay, because they never overturned those excessive attorneys fees.
In Mr. Stegall’s case, the Guardian and court appointed Guardian ad Litem (both Illinois licensed attorneys) never told Mr. Stegall’s friends he had been taken to a nursing home. All Mr. Stegall’s friends had to figure out where he was and how he had been taken when they abruptly found him missing one day. Curtis Ford and Patrick Egan would not allow Penny or Tonny to visit Mr. Stegall while he was in the hospital for 10 days prior to Curtis Ford moving him to a nursing home where he lived for about a week. Ford and Egan instructed hospital staff to not give Penny or Tonny Williamson any information about Mr. Stegall and they could not visit with their dear friend. The Williamson’s called St. Mary’s every day. It was Tonny who had called for an ambulance the morning after January 1, 2022 after finding Mr. Stegall laying on the floor beside his bed. She took Fred to the ER and stayed with him until he was admitted to the hospital, but then Mr. Ford and Mr. Egan would not let her see her dear friend or obtain any information regarding his condition.
But with good detective work and assistance of the angels, on January 16, 2022,Penny and Tonny located Fred Stegall in a nursing home in the quad cities. Only Tonny and Penny came to the nursing home to visit with Fred.
The Fred Stegall cases have been rocked with controversy and terrible problems.
And as a reporter for these blogs I personally have a number of questions:
Why is the Diocese of Peoria suing the Williamsons for their dear friend’s farm and timber land? When did churches start suing people to take their land? I personally have been involved with Christian churches for decades and I have never heard of a Christian Church suing an Estate, getting involved in any dispute in an Estate and trying to take farm and timberland from their friends and neighbors.
Why did the court and Judge Curtis Lane block all discovery (three times) as requested by the Williamsons, rush quickly to trial, and why did attorneys Paul Mangieri and John W. Robertson file suit against the Williamsons over this farmland when Fred Stegall made it repeatedly known that he did not want to sue the Williamsons and that James Blake was not his attorney and had never been his attorney?
Why did Father Brokaw take the witness stand and tell the following lies?
a. that Fred attended weekly mass without fail (when Fred did not attend weekly mass all the time, that he depended upon someone driving him since fall of 2020, and b) then his church, Abingdon Church was closed for approximately six months during Covid, and then c) Brokaw was not even the main pastor there at the time in question, so how would he know?) Prior to July, 2020 Brokaw was not the priest for Fred Stegall and rarely if ever saw him. All good questions.
Why is attorney John Robertson standing in the court hallways and telling witnesses that the Williamsons are “crooks and scam artists?” When in fact these are good, kind Christian ladies who took care of 95 year old Fred Stegall for over a year in his final days and spent over $115,000 on his care when the Guardian ad Litem and Guardian of the Person and court would not give him a dime for living expenses and necessaries?
Why did Brokaw provide false testimony to the court that the Williamsons prevented him from giving Fred Stegall last rites when in fact they had no control over that. At the time of his death Fred was in a Guardianship and only his Guardian ad Litem and court appointed Guardian (Curtis Ford and Patrick Egan) who could have done that. The Williamsons actually drove Fred to Catholic Church numerous times when he was too frail to drive himself.
Why was Brokaw shaking his head “no” during witness testimony when he either knew or should have known that no one in the courtroom is allowed to do that as in ever. That was a horrible thing to do. The jury clearly saw his actions. Who told him that can do that or should do that. Brokaw had one of the highest honors of sitting at counsel table during a trial and he abused that honor. He should promptly apologize to the court, the litigants and the jury.
But the bigger question is why is the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Peoria getting involved in Estates to try to take land from citizens via contested and expensive probate proceedings.
If you have any information on this case and why the proceedings are so very strange and troublesome I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. I am a reporter for two popular blogs on court corruption and you may provide me with statements “off record” and I would keep everything in confidence. (Illinois does in fact have a “reporter’s privilege law”)
It’s time to clean up the court system in Illinois, and I and other concerned citizens would greatly appreciate your help in doing so.
Remember that the greatest cure for corruption is always sunshine which is a tremendous cure for corruption.
If you have any information about this case or Judge Lane or Attorneys Paul Mangieri or John Robertson, I would greatly appreciate your bringing this information to my attention so that justice may be done. You are welcome to call, fax or email me with the information and it will be kept in confidence. If you call me, please email or text me first so I know you are a real person and not a robo call or spammer.
And please pray for these dear, kind ladies that justice may be done. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Joanne Denison Executive Director, Justice 4 Every1, NFP Blogger and dedicated to accountability in the courts
cc: Senate Committee on the Judiciary; Senate Special Committee on Aging
fn (735 ILCS 5/8-901) § 8-901. Source of information. No court may compel any person to disclose the source of any information obtained by a reporter except as provided in Part 9 of Article VIII of this Act.
Ken Ditkowsky is correct: the ARDC blew a gasket when it found out that 1) I knew Dean Sallas, and possibly Amelia; 2) I showed him how to get an email, log into zoom, watch his wife’s guardianship proceedings and I also told him to fight the corruption; 3) he now successfully files his own pleadings and communications with the court.
He and his wife have been deprived of their savings, their assets and Dean at age 85 or so was evicted from his own home, entirely due to the actions and inactions of certain judges and attorneys on the 18th floor of the Daley Center. Ken writes more about this in detail below.
The FBI and DOJ clearly know of the details of the Sallas case. They know the judges and attorneys in the guardianship of Amelia Sallas are dealing in looting the assets of married parties: Dean and Amelia without Deans consent, authorization and control despite the fact that all their assets are jointly owned and control and it is nothing but pure theft for 1) place Amelia in a facility without her knowledge and control; 2) ban her husband from seeing her there; 3) for years they banned Dean from taking her home so they could live together again; 3) they interfered in the mortgage of their home, failed to pay the mortgage and got Dean evicted and homeless at age 85. I am told he now lives in his car.
Will no one help this couple find justice? No attorney will touch the case because 1) Dean is homeless and penniless; and 2) the attorney can well expect false bar complaints against him or her for interfering with and delaying the looting of the Sallas estate.
The ARDC will go after you if you even mention stopping the money flow to certain judges and lawyers on the 18th floor in probate.
Hence, they spent hours on me when it was determined that I was helping the elderly use a computer, use the internet, create an efiling account and fully participate in preventing the looting of the Sallas estate.
It is my understanding that Dean Sallas continues to this day to fight for his wife, his home and his estate, despite the fact lawyers and judges operating on the 18th floor have how left him destitute and homeless.
He has no intention of ending this fight anytime soon. As long as he walks and breathes and can type and think, he will be filing his protestations of the horrific abuses suffered in Amelia’s guardianship proceeding.
Read on from Ken Ditkowsky:
The distinction between our current Government and that of a totalitarian government is simple. We rail concerning inequity, injustice, and inhumanity – the totalitarian government just does it! Mr Philip’s e=mail and complaint is as American as Apple pie! Sophia Campasano, Dean Sallas and a cast of thousands of elderly victims all have the very same complaint, to wit: a loved one has had his/her life taken over by a predatory guardian aided and abetted by a corrupt judge (or a series of corrupt judges) and all the agencies of government who boast of their compassion, honor and devotion to the 14th Amendment to our Constitution manifest total disinterest. Benign neglect would be a 100% improvement!Unfortunately, this fiasco does not end with rogue goverment or judicial theft – it in fact does not end until every stone has been tossed at the victim and his/her family and every loose dollar has found its way into the miscreants pockets. Anyone who stands in the way of the juggernaut of corruption is threatened or otherwise neutralized. Attorney JoAnn Denison attempted to teach Dean Sallas how to access Zoom. Attorneys for the wrongfully appointed and over-reaching Guardian and for the Byline Bank COMPLAINED THE Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois about Ms. Denison’s interference with the ****** the SALLAS savings and assets.Immediately, the IARDC jumped into action and dispatched a “trial attorney” to Ms. Denison’s abode to make all sorts of absurd and untrue charges against her. To silence the protest of Sallas, they even subpoenaed his “Goggle account.” (Sallas shared a copy of the notice with me!!!). Today, thanks to Ms. Denison’s ethically challenged activity of teaching a senior citizen to use ZOOM, Sallas is even able to access Court matters that concern his interests, speak to reporter Janet Phelan, etc. (the IARDC has written that they have dropped the ethical charges against Ms. Denison arising from the complaints involving teaching Mr. Sallas to use Zoom – however, they have relented on her suspension for exercising her 1st and 14th Amendment Rights in maintaining the MARYGSYKES blog!.Mr.Phillip’s situation is particularly vexing for the Financial elder abusers and their co-conspirators. He is not an attorney and he does not frighten. He just keeps on demanding J U S T I C E for his mother. The local miscreants are further vexed as he is complaining from a sister State and unless the bad guys wish to advertise that they are Grandma’s predators – Mr. Phillips personally is out of reach!THE SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WE FACE IS THAT MR. PHILLIP’S COMPLAINT IS TRUE AND ACCURATE.like it or not, today when we ignore Mr. Phillip’s complaint we set ourselves up in the very near future to experience his woe very soon and very much in the very near future.
In all seriousness — today it is Mr. Phillip who reaches out for HELP – Tomorrow it may very well be me or thee!
On Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 10:53:17 PM CST, Key Phillip-s <phillipskey@yahoo.com> wrote:
I have followed almost every one of the recommendations. Asked for help from both the State of Washington, the ombudsman group, DHS, state prosecutors office etc and the federal government–DOJ, HHS, etc. The classic answer is that they are sorry but they either don’t have the resources or they don’t have the authority to even investigate.
I even have in writing a note probably drafted by a junior staff assistant and probably an attorney to Kelly Clarkson with the DOJ. She is too busy. I asked for help from HHS involving religious persecution and refusal to allow my mother to attend church–same answer. As if someone is drafting a standard response–I suspect drafted by the American Bar. The response is almost always the same. The Washington state prosecutor even went so far to suggest that if my mother was on the streets they could help but since a hotshot guardian was involved “they really didn’t have the resources.” In writing!
And help from “good” attorney’s doesn’t exist. They are all terrified of being sanctioned and possibly losing their license like the sixteen fine men and women in AZ I contacted to represent my mother when Ohana took her Tucson home. Not a single one would even talk to me as soon as they knew what it was about. Even the fine attorney of a large law firm who helped my mother and father write their first will and trust here in Tucson wouldn’t even respond–his second refusal to help. Nor did he allow anyone in his large firm to respond. I contacted both male and female attorneys, some with licenses in both states–not a single one. Several angrily hung on me. There is a law school with the UofA, I have called for help several times. They have no idea what I am talking about???
And if you complain too loud, the State of Washington will pull you into court again on trumped up accusations of harassment with threats to family.
I wonder where they will build the furnaces. .
On Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 04:19:32 PM MST, kenneth ditkowsky <kenditkowsky@yahoo.com> wrote:
ENT AND ABUSE BY GUARDIANS AND OTHER FIDUCIARIES
Guardians and Other Fiduciaries Who Mistreat Older Adults
While courts make efforts to ensure that guardians are trustworthy, some guardians have taken advantage of people in their care. The mistreatment could be financial, physical, emotional/psychological or any other type of abuse of an older person or person with a disability. Guardians also may neglect the people for whom they have a responsibility to provide care. These perpetrators of abuse can be anyone serving as a guardian (family members, trusted others, non-profits, professional guardians, agencies).
There is currently limited information on the number of guardianship cases involving abuse. The US Senate Special Committee on Aging and the US Government Accountability Office have highlighted the problem and cited anecdotal information. The National Center for State Courts has found that most reports on the problem of exploitation by guardians lack empirical data. Reports of fraud or other malfeasance by guardians have most often involved financial exploitation, but other types of mistreatment are also reported. Abusive acts by guardians may meet the definitions for various state and federal crimes, depending on the facts of the case. Guardians might be charged with such crimes as elder abuse, embezzlement, larceny, money laundering, theft, and neglect.
How can the courts with jurisdiction over guardianship cases respond to abuse?
A court with jurisdiction over a guardianship case might uncover evidence of abuse through monitoring, or a person or government agency might need to file a complaint or petition the court to respond to the mistreatment. These courts can take the following types of actions:
Freeze assets and/or restrict accounts – Courts may take these actions to limit a guardian’s access to money and property while investigating a case or preparing to take another protective step.
Investigate allegations of malfeasance– Once allegations of abuse have been made, courts can appoint a guardian ad litem, investigator or visitor to investigate. A court can also audit an individual’s assets or order an accounting by an external entity such as a certified public accountant.
Order repayment for lost assets or property – Such orders might restore lost assets but, in many cases, the only way to recover funds is through a bond that the guardian obtained upon appointment. Sometimes courts do not require bonding when the guardian is appointed, making it more difficult to obtain repayment for losses at the hands of the guardian.
Enforce statutory rights to communication and visitation – When abusive guardians use isolation tactics, family members and others may be able to seek orders enforcing state laws that define the rights of people subject to guardianship to interact with others of their choosing.
Appoint a co-guardian or limit the powers of the guardian – This strategy may help deter or stop mistreatment by a guardian.
Remove the guardian – Removal may be the best way to stop guardian malfeasance, and petitioners might suggest a willing and suitable replacement.
Terminate the guardianship – Less restrictive options or changed circumstances might lead a court to terminate the guardianship entirely.
Besides courts with guardianship jurisdiction, who can address abuse by guardians?
Numerous federal, state, and local government entities and non-profit agencies can respond and provide services when someone suspects that a guardian is mistreating an individual. Although the court has the sole power to impose certain orders such as removing the guardian or surcharging bonds, other entities can get involved and assist victims. These include:
Adult protective services – Anyone suspecting mistreatment by a guardian should report to adult protective services. Find your state or local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator. Most states have laws making certain categories of people mandatory reporters of elder or vulnerable adult abuse.
Protection and advocacy systems – Protection and Advocacy Systems are federally-mandated state-based organizations that work to protect the rights of people with disabilities, including guarding against abuse. Find your protection and advocacy agency here.
Long-term care ombudsmen – If the individual resides in a nursing home (or, in some states, receives home- and community-based services), the long-term care ombudsman can investigate and resolve complaints about abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including complaints about guardians. Anyone can file a complaint, but the resident (or an appropriate representative) must consent in order for the ombudsman to investigate and share information. Learn about the ombudsman program here and find your local ombudsman.
Law enforcement – A guardian’s breach of duty may violate criminal laws and warrant investigation and prosecution. In addition to reporting to Adult Protective Services, individuals suspecting guardian abuse should report it to law enforcement. Contact your local law enforcement agency, your state attorney general, or call 911. Some recent examples of guardianship fraud cases pursued by the United States Department of Justice include cases in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Attorneys – Separate from the guardianship system, there are various civil actions that may apply to abuse by guardians. Depending on state law, civil attorneys might bring cases alleging breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, fraud, undue influence or a private right of action for elder abuse. Remedies might include restitution (repaying money lost), voiding documents including deeds, or other monetary awards of damages.
Federal agencies – If the guardian also serves as a Social Security representative payee or VA fiduciary and is misusing public benefits, individuals may report to the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General or the VA Office of the Inspector General.
Professional licensing boards – In some states, professional guardians may be certified, licensed or registered. State boards can investigate and may revoke a license or certification. If the guardian is a lawyer, the state has a committee that takes disciplinary action when a lawyer violates professional responsibilities.
What is power of attorney abuse?
Powers of attorney give a trusted person (the agent) a great deal of authority and access to money and property, without regular oversight. Power of attorney abuse can take many forms. The agent might spend the individual’s money on items for his or her own use rather than for the individual’s needs. The agent might do things that the document doesn’t allow, such as making gifts when that power hasn’t been granted. The power of attorney document itself might be forged or fraudulent in some other way.
State laws may help to prevent or limit power of attorney abuse. For example, the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, adopted in over half the states, permits a third party such as a bank to refuse to honor a POA when the abuse is suspected and the third party reports it to an adult protective services agency.
What are the remedies to address power of attorney abuse after it occurs?
Lawyers may help people to stop power of attorney abuse and to get money back that has been improperly taken by the agent. For example, a lawyer could:
Draft a document to revoke (cancel) the POA
Ask a court to require the agent to file an accounting to see how the agent has spent the money
File a civil action to cancel contracts or deeds that the agent should not have made
File a civil action to recoup money
Petition a court to appoint a guardian who can manage the finances if the individual is unable to manage money independently
In addition, agents under a POA may be prosecuted for abusing a power of attorney. Depending on state criminal law, power of attorney abuse might be theft, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, exploitation or another financial crime. Through the criminal court process, a prosecutor could ask the court to freeze the individual assets to prevent further abuse, and could also seek restitution (repayment of money taken).
What do we know about abuse by government fiduciaries?
Reports from the Social Security Advisory Board, the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, the Government Accountability Office, the National Academy of Sciences and other government and quasi-governmental entities over the past fifteen years have documented abuse by both individual and organizational representative payees. These incidents have prompted removal of payees from the program and, in some cases, criminal prosecution. The Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs also has investigated and substantiated allegations of abuse by VA fiduciaries.
Ken Ditkowsky
On Friday, March 10, 2023 at 12:37:35 PM CST, kenneth ditkowsky <kenditkowsky@yahoo.com> wrote:
I dialed up the Committee’s web site and sent the following, to wit:
There is a war going on in Chicago that is not being reported in the media. Certain criminal elements (with great clout) have and are using the Courts to prey on elder citizens. The Guardianship case of AMELIA SALLAS 07 P 5360 is a prime example. Its companion case entitled BYLINE BANK vs. AMELIA SALLAS 2019 CH 13960 , now pending in the Appellate Court of Illinois is a text book example of wrongdoing. (Appellate Court 1=22 -1111).
By e-mail I’ve forwarded to you a draft copy of Dean Sallas’ brief.
Legislation is in place in Illinois and in most States that husband the WAR AGAINST GRANDMA & GRANDPA – the problem is a lack of enforcement.
In Illinois a guardian is appointed pursuant to 755 ILCS 5/11a – 3. Section 3a sets for a procrustean criterion for determining if a person needs a guardian, and section 3b the instruction how CONSISTENT WITH THE 14TH AMENDMENT that authority to appoint a guardian and the severe limitations required by our 1st, 4th, 5th and 14th Amendments.
Briefly, a guardian is a fiduciary and as such limited to actions that are 1) reasonable, 2) necessary, and 3) beneficial all judged by the clear light of hindsight. IN PRACTICE, the guardian with the consent and ultra vires conduct of a corrupt judge becomes the alter ego of the victim ward, and the sorry individual is left, homeless, helpless, friendless and segregated i for not only her/his savings but isolated without hope.
Taking the Sallas case as an example, the appointment of a guardian was done without any finding of facts and law by the Judge as to specifics required by statute. No matter, two guardians were appointed. One guardian recognized that its appointment was wrongful and resigned. No problem, a second guardian was appointed. case 07 P 5360. No matter, the beat went on. The 8 million dollars plus in assets saved by Mr. and Mrs. Sallas has all disappeared (even though there was no authority for any guardian to touch marital assets or the assets of Mr. Sallas. Mrs. Sallas is in a nursing home, toothless and with limited mobility. Her husband is homeless, and on charity. Their half million dollar valued home in Skokie, which in 2018 had a mortgage of about $175,000.00 is gone by foreclosure. Thanks to the Byline Bank and the Cook County public guardian without borrowing a dime, the debt grew by about $200,000.00 and was sold at a foreclosure suit.
Remedial legislation designed to protect people like Mr. and Mrs. Sallas were ignored — it seems that this elderly couple – in their 80’s signed commercial loan documents. Mrs. Sallas signature was an overt crime pursuant to 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22.
The actions of the guardian, the supervising judge, and the Byline Bank all (in my opinion) violated 720 ILCS 5/17 -56 – another remedial statute.
Not only has every attorney been intimidated by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Illinois Supreme Court, but no law enforcement agency will enforce the statutes protecting the elderly. As an example, The CFPB is reported as informing Mr. Sallas that as he and his wife signed documents that were “commercial” the agency could not help them!!!!
The Byline Bank’s conduct herein is reprehensible – they and their “assignees” knowing that their conduct was REPREHENSIBLE had Dean Sallas thrown out of his home. Of course, the court and law enforcement are silent! Benign neglect would be a major step forward.THE FOREGOING IS ALL OLD HAT, BUT MR. & MRS. SALLAS ARE STILL CAPTIVES & STILL BEING DEPRIVED OF THEIR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS! It is very frustrating knowing that there are statutory remedies but noting that they are all a facade. If a lawyer can be found who has the courage to assert the human rights of the designated victim of this heinous criminal conduct emanating right from the bench, the ILLINOIS ATTORNEY REGISTRATION AND DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION of the SUPREME COURT OF ILLINOIS will accuse the lawyer of lying et al and the lawyer will be granted a kangaroo trial and suspended from the practice of law. LAW ENFORCEMENT finds one excuse after another as to WHY enforcement of the law cannot occur to protect grandma and grandpa from the predators – thus, law enforcement is out to lunch!. The committee has GAO reports reporting this travesty and ignores them. So why did I send anything to the Committee? HOPE SPRING ETERNAL! I cannot believe that the government of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA no longer gives a damn about its citizens and we no longer count! Certainly we do not count in Cook County, Illinois! I wonder why the government of Chicago/Cook County, Illinois even bothers with a vote for the mayor of Chicago?????
Ken Ditkowsky
On Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 03:25:55 PM CST, kenneth ditkowsky <kenditkowsky@yahoo.com> wrote:
Guardianship abuse is about as pervasive and venal as can be imagined. The only thing missing in the Sallas case are JACK BOOTS, and railway freight cares packed with people. Respect for the Rule of Law and the Constitutional protections of the 1st, 4th, 5th and 14th Amendments are in stark evidence. Statutory limitations are routinely ignored, and the miscreants are not shy in making it very clear that their object is not to assist the elderly who fall into their custody, but to exploit them.
The cries of Sallas, and Campasano to Judge Boliker are not only ignored but ridiculed. Albert Campasano 2021 P 3717 (Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court) is a veteran – on the one hand they thank for his service, and other the hand they deny him the very friends that he fought for – going so low as to take his sundry possessions and that of his wife. (Of course, they do not recognize his wife, or the limitations of 755 ILCS 5/11a – 3 b.) The credo – is Albert and Sophia have a few dollars – the dollars are better served in the pockets of *****,
Relative to Sallas 07 P 5360 (mortgage foreclosure 2019 CH 13960 on appeal as 1 – 22 -111, a draft of Dean Sallas brief to the Appellate Court of Illinois is instructive, to wit:
Introduction.
This is an Appeal from a Summary Judgment Order of foreclosure and Sale in direct derogation of current remedial legislation designed by the Illinois Legislature to abrogate Financial Elder Abuse of vulnerable citizens such as the elderly vulnerable defendants herein, i.e. Dean Sallas (age 85) and Amelia Sallas (approx. age 80) who were married for more than ½ a century. (see 720 ILCS 5/17 -56)
This particular appeal is unique in that.”
1. The complaint C 24 filed herein, and the record in general appears to be devoid of any averment of any assignment of the security agreement sought to be foreclosed to the initial plaintiff Byline Bank. It is therefore respectfully suggested that the Byline Bank has no standing to bring this foreclosure suit.
2. That the Guardian appointed for Mrs. Sallas is a fiduciary who breached his relationship toward Mrs. Sallas in that he did not raise as a defense the Financial Elder Abuse protective statutes 720 ILCS 5/17 -56 and in particular to this foreclosure proceeding, did not raise a defense the fact the 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22 voids any attempt by the holder of an agreement signed by such a person as Mrs. Sallas to foreclosure or otherwise collect on an obligation evidenced by a document signed in violation of the said section 22. Mrs. Sallas, is a necessary party to this foreclosure action – however pursuant to the aforesaid 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22
3. That as part of the Motion for Summary Judgment C 485 , the plaintiff presents a Petition presented by the Guardian in case 07 P 5360, entitled in Re: Amelia Sallas C 371 wherein the Guardian for Mrs. Sallas appears to make some serious omission of fact and law. In particular, knowing that 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22 as violated by Byline Bank on January 25, 2018 the Guardian makes no mention of said fact. Instead the Guardian requests the Court for permission to enter into the very wrongful and ultra vires contract voided Section 22 and most importantly – a criminal offense for Byline Bank to enter into. (It is respectfully submitted that this action by the Guardian, appearing to be represented by the Byline Bank as attornment to the crime by the Court invokes the Himmel case and 18 USCA 4 reporting to law enforcement requirements.
4. That without a scintilla of proof as to either the Standing of the plaintiff to pursue this foreclosure, or mesne debts appearing to have been long abandoned by 3rd persons, the plaintiff was not only allowed to have such stranger debts added to the judgment, but to do so by a Summary Judgment entered prior to the defendant Sallas having an opportunity to take discovery, or file defenses and counterclaims to the instant foreclosure complaint objected to.
5. That without any indication that the plaintiff made any disclosures required by Federal and States law C 27, the balance due as of the date of the alleged default was set $152,607.00, but the judgment for more than $200,000 in excess. Note: The initial principal balance due when Mr. and Mrs. Signed the loan documents to be $173, 366 (C67) dated January 25, 2018.[1] .
Notwithstanding a continuing objection as to the standing of the Byline Bank to bring this foreclosure action herein, this commercial loan document was signed by both Mr. and Mrs. Sallas on January 25, 2018. And the said agreement appears of record as exhibit H attached to the complaint filed herein (C24) Stripped to its primary issue and concern, this appeal raises the pressing issue of whether or not the Chancery (Equity) Division of the trial court attorns to and countenances the Financial Elder Abuse clearly barred by its own rules, 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22, and 720 ILCS 5/17 – 56.
The casual deceptions of the Byline Bank et al herein, not only as to the initial service of process on Dean Sallas (C201 ), the Petition of February 15, 2018 (C371 ), amounts due and owing C636, omission of assignment by Plaza Bank to Byline Bank , affidavit of Attorney fees C 727, casual characterization of predatory mortgage as a legitimate loan arrangement rather rank FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE of the most predatory nature, cannot be tolerated. The commercial loan aside the efficacy of the Judicial system required pursuant to Article 1 Section 12 of the Illinois Constitution is challenged by disrespect for integrity, decency, and honor by the decisions in this case and the EVICTION from his home of Dean Sallas. Allowing such predation as renders Sallas homeless and vulnerable and denies him his human and vested civil rights.
The instant appeal is distinguishable from most appeals that are brought to this Court as the Appellant, Dean Sallas, is not only pro se, but elderly (age 85) l Mr. Sallas’ wife (and codefendant) has become a victim of a predatory guardianship, wrongful isolation, and worse. Sallas’ Constitutional Rights have been overtly and repeatedly violated, and it is respectfully suggested that Mrs. Sallas’ Court appointed Guardian in these proceedings abdicated the responsibility he claims. (see Petition of Feb 15, 2018 (c ) See also Wambaugh vs. Parson .
Pursuant to the criteria of the Himmel decision, the clear words of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution and the statute that provides for appointing a guardian, i.e. 755 ILCS 5/11a – 3, this Court is placed on notice that the plenary Guardian’s appointment and assignment are severely limited solely to the property vested solely of Mrs. Sallas but not to any property of Mr. Sallas, including but not limited to his interest in the marital property of the parties. The Guardian is not appointed to be the alter-ego of Mrs. Sallas and his appointment gives him no jurisdiction concerning either Appellant Dean Sallas or Sallas’ property interests. In fact the Guardian’s “power” is severely limited to acts specifically granted in the statute of those only to the extent that said ‘powers’ are 1) reasonable, 2) necessary and 3 benefit the individual who is designated his ward.
That said, the Guardian is a fiduciary, and he owes to Mrs. Sallas the highest brand of fidelity, integrity, and honesty possible. 755 ILCS 5/11a- 3 and the 1st, 4th,5th, and 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution further embellish define and limit the guardian’s responsibility. In a similar manner, this Court is placed upon notice that the affidavits submitted to the Court by the Attorney’s for the Byline Bank praying for a reimbursement of attorney fees for their client are patently absurd – and this Court on the record substantially reduced the claim for attorney fees.
The Appellant respectfully suggests that he at 85 years of age, and his wife at years of age are classic victims of Financial Elder Abuse perpetrated in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
Issue 1. Do statutory and common law protections against abusive and predatory lending practices have meaning in Foreclosure of Mortgage proceedings.
Issue 2. What are the criteria for the entry of Summary Judgment. In particular can Summary Judgment be entered while there is pending a Motion to Dismiss filed by plaintiff and prior to the defendant being given an opportunity to do discovery, file counterclaims or defenses to the pleadings of the plaintiff.
Issue 3. Does the Court in a home mortgage foreclosure have to protect senior citizens from clear abuse by lenders. In simple terms do the hallowed principles of Equity and Justice apply.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
That essential parties to this case are:
1) Appellant, Dean Sallas. He is the spouse of Amelia Sallas for more than ½ a century. Mr. and Mrs. Sallas are the homeowners of the property subject to the Byline Bank foreclosure action herein.
2) Mrs. Amelia Sallas In the related cases of In re: Amelia Sallas 07 P 5360 the Circuit Court of Cook County on******* entered an order finding the Amelia Sallas as a disabled person and in need of a Guardian of her person and her property. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sallas resided in the “property” under foreclosure until approximately ( C ) .
3) Byline Bank (and is claimed assignees). The plaintiff herein. (NB. Without evidence being submitted the appellant of a proper assignment of the collateral from the initial lender to the Byline Bank, defendant does not concede the Byline Bank has standing to bring this foreclosure).
4) The Cook County Public Guardian. Mr. Golbert was appointed plenary guardian for Mrs. Sallas after a series of mesne transactions and appointments.
On January 25, 2018 the Byline Bank, being fully aware of the prohibitions of 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22 in derogation of the statutory prohibition demanded and obtained the signature of both Mr. Dean Sallas, and Mrs. Amelia Sallas on a Commercial loan document connoting that the signatories owed the Byline Bank the sum of $$173, 366dollars and was required to repay to the Byline Bank that sum at the rate of dollars per month at an interest rate of %. This loan was secured by the borrower’s home. (C 67) This document is the basic document upon which this collection action is based. A prior security agreement in favor of a stranger to these proceedings is sought to be foreclosed.
On January 25, 2018, all parties knew that amongst the Illinois Statutes was 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22. In words and phrases section 22 states:
(755 ILCS 5/11a-22)(from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 11a-22) Sec. 11a-22. Trade and contracts with a person with a disability.
(a) Anyone who by trading with, bartering, gaming or any other device, wrongfully possesses himself of any property of a person known to be a person with a disability commits a Class A misdemeanor. (b) Every note, bill, bond or other contract by any person for whom a plenary guardian has been appointed or who is adjudged to be unable to socontract is void as against that person and his estate, but a person making a contract with the person so adjudged is bound thereby. (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
On February 15, 2018 it appears of record in the plaintiff/appellee’s MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT and in case 07 P 5360 (C 371) that the Cook County Guardian (the plenary guardian appointed to protect Amy Sallas) appeared before Judge Boliker by petition dated said date to seek to authorization execute commercial loan documents noted supra and appearing as exhibit H attached to the complaint. Dishonestly, the Guardian’s petition to the Court and presentation did not disclose that on January 25, 2018, the Byline Bank had in direct violation of 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22 had obtained the signature of his ward. Mrs. Amy Sallas, the wife of the Appellant. [N.B The Guardian, having a duty of disclosure to the Court, and a fiduciary duty to Mrs. Sallas, did not inform the Court that the actions of the Byline Bank were a serious violation of the law prohibited by 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22 and the Financial Elder Abuse Statutes. The Petition submitted in words and phrases asked for permission for Guardian to sign the Byline Bank papers. (c371)]
Subsequently, by a series of mesne transactions the Guardian removed from the marital funds of Mr. and Mrs. Sallas approximately $40,000.00 and according to the Summary Judgement documents (c 377 )paid the same over to the Byline Bank apparently reducing the balance due to about approximately $153,000.
The Byline Bank on or about filed this foreclosure suit on or about . On or about a Motion to Quash to false return of summons on Dean Sallas was filed, C . and granted on C .[2] On Dean Sallas filed a MOTION TO DISMISS C .on raising the issues of unclean hands, and pointing out the irregularities in this proceeding. This Motion was denied on .C .
The Counter to the defendant’s Motion to Dismiss was a Motion for Summary Judgment.C . Even though prior to the ability of the defendant to take discovery, asset defenses, answer the complaint, the trial court on . in the Amount of total sum of dollars granted the motion and ordered the foreclosure sale of the subject real estate.C . This Summary Judgment order accepted affidavits from the Byline Bank that were in conflict with the actions and or demeanor of the Byline Bank and in the case of the claim for attorneys overtly absurd. (NB. The full claim for attorney fees of approximately $41,000.00 was rejected by the court but $ of attorney fees was granted for the proceeding not out of the discovery stage.C , C )
On or about , the Byline Bank successfully petitioned to the trial court for leave to the Court for the Court to recognize an assignment of interest to and the change the name of the case eliminating the Byline Bank from the title C .. Sallas protested that such would bar him from asserting any counterclaimsC or affirmative defenses he might have against the Byline Bank. The Court on entered an order that in words and phrases C stated:
A judicial sale was held on , the sum $ was bid, This sale was confirmed on , and on C the defendant Dean Sallas filed his notice of Appeal.
N.B. At all-time relevant the title to the subject real estate is vested (though a land trust arrangement) as the marital property of both Amelia Sallas and Dean Sallas. A search of case 07 P 5360 does not indicate that at any time the Guardian appointed for Mrs. Sallas (Amelia)or any other person or entity was granted a quit claim deed or other conveyance of Mrs. Sallas marital interest in her home. [3]
ARGUMENT
The appellant Dean Sallas (age 85) is pro-se and apologizes in advance as to his lack of legal skills and any deficiencies in his presentation or brief.
APPELLANT & HIS SPOUSE AS SENIOR CITIZENS, WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR MORE THAN ½ A CENTURY, AND WHO ARE BOTH AGED 80 PLUS ARE ENTITLED TO NOT ONLY THEIR 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION RIGHTS, BUT THE REMEDIAL PROTECTIONS AFFORED THE TO VULNERABLE SENIOR CITIZENS. AND THE APPLICATION OF THE HISTORICAL PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY
Illinois in Article 1 Section 12 of its CONSTITUTION of 1970 states:
SECTION 12. RIGHT TO REMEDY AND JUSTICE
Every person shall find a certain remedy in the laws for
all injuries and wrongs which he receives to his person,
privacy, property or reputation. He shall obtain justice by
law, freely, completely, and promptly.
A foreclosure action, such as the instant action is an Equity/Chancery action and addresses the issues to the conscience of the sovereign and thus requires parties seeking relief to not only do equity, but to come to the Court with ‘clean hands.’
The Appellee (Byline Bank) demonstrates a callous disregard for these principles in the ‘key document’ required by this foreclosure – the loan document. This loan document was executed by the Byline Bank and Amelia Sallas in direct violation of 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22 which in clearly obviates the right to a Foreclosure. The statute stating.
(755 ILCS 5/11a-22) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 11a-22) Sec. 11a-22. Trade and contracts with a person with a disability. (a) Anyone who by trading with, bartering, gaming or any other device, wrongfully possesses himself of any property of a person known to be a person with a disability commits a Class A misdemeanor. (b) Every note, bill, bond or other contract by any person for whom a plenary guardian has been appointed or who is adjudged to be unable to so contract is void as against that person and his estate, but a person making a contract with the person so adjudged is bound thereby. (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
The total record herein including but not limited thereto the MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT clearly indicates that Mrs. Sallas, a necessary party to any foreclosure action concerning her home, was adjudicated a disabled person, and a Guardian was appointed to protect her personal interests. A clear criminal violation of section 22 occurred on January 25, 2018 that cannot be swept under the rug, or buried with a multitude of copies of documents such as filed herein by the Byline Bank.
The record is devoid of any mitigating circumstances that might obviate the enforcement of State and Federal financial elder abuse legislative protections or justify the Circuit Court in ignoring its own heritage and core principles.
Indeed, the case of In re: Neprozatis , makes it very clear that in Illinois Equity Courts if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, has feathers like a duck it is indeed a duck. Indeed, 720 ILCS 5/17- 56 similarly decrees that entities that have the ability to subject an individual to Financial Elder Abuse are not under Illinois law free to use the facilities of Illinois Courts to do so. That statute renders such persons not only subject to triple damages and attorney’s fees, but the burden of proof is reduced from clear and convincing to preponderance of the evidence.
The case Wambaugh vs. Parsons , addresses the fiduciary duty of a guardian. The case is relevant along with Struck vs. Cook County Public Guardian , tolay emphasis upon the fact that the Court (i.e. the Circuit Court of Cook County, and the judicial establishment recognizes that a guardianship is a ‘thin ice’ situation as in a parens patrie matter requires strict integrity, decency, and statutory compliance so as to not infringe of the basic protections of the Federal Constitution, the Illinois Constitution and most importantly the 14th Amendment. A Guardian’s power is thus severely limited solely to his specifically published grant (published in the order of appointment and the findings of fact and conclusions of law required by 755 ILCS 5/11a – 3) and actions that are 1) reasonable, 2) necessary, and 3) benefit the word. It is respectfully suggested that the record herein and in case 07 P 5360 suggest that all the protective criteria were vitiated and ignored. (Judicial notice of this Court’s records and case 07 P 5360 is requested in the interest of justice).
The Summary Judgment order entered herein is particularly offensive to not only the origins, and principles, of Equity, but Article 1, Section 12 of the Illinois Constitution, but Amendment 14 of the United States Constitution. A litigant seeking the equitable relief of a foreclosure cannot engage in FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE or deal inappropriately with senior citizens. Indeed, the grant of Summary Judgment not only ignores statutory prohibitions, but even basic concepts that even lay litigants are aware.
In particular, how is the Byline Bank even before this Court to file a foreclosure action. An examination of the documents filed by the Byline Bank does not include an assignment, quit claim deed, or other evidence of a conveyance of the Security Interest from the original holder of the Mortgage (Plaza Bank) to Byline Bank). Byline Bank may have some relationship with other creditors of Mr. Sallas, but proxy litigation is not appropriate for a court of equity.
Indeed, the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by the Byline Bank/appellee is replete with documents that connote AND emphasize the plaintiff’s ‘lack of doing equity, unclean hands, criminal conduct’ and serious conduct that raises serious concerns. The clear unequivocal violation of 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22), and 720 ILCS 5/17 -56 cannot be ignored or swept under the Rug. Both statutes are remedial and intended to address the very concerns that are raised in these proceedings.
Further, even though the HIMMEL decision is ignored in these FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE cases the totality of the legislation enacted at both the State and Federal level manifests a demand that the elderly’s 14th Amendment protections not be trampled on by institutions such are noted herein.
The disclosure rules and ordinances enacted both at the Federal and State level that address loans to senior citizens and other vulnerable people are more than words on paper. They are intended to be strictly enforced, even if a Byline Bank, or a Court Appointed Guardian would be embarrassed or lose money. The spectacle created by the calculation of the alleged balance due illustrated the point. As the Guardian (Mr. Golbert) has never been specifically authorized to address any asset of Appellant Dean Sallas (including his marital property interests) serious questions of ultra vires conduct (as well as criminal contempt of court questions) are raised by the February 15, 2018 petition. These questions and the comments made by the Byline Bank in support of its MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT suggest some serious conspiratorial action.
On January 25, 2018 the contract that violated 755 ILCS 5/11a – 22 was signed. This contract was attached to the complaint as the first 3 pages of exhibit H. It is respectfully submitted that the claimed balance due to the Byline Bank was approximately $175,000.00. There was no mention of any sundry secret judgments outstanding etc. In fact the Guardian’s February 15, 2018 petition to Judge Boliker similarly made no mention of such a judgment. Protection of Debtors under law require such items to be disclosed when the documents are signed.
Thus, the Byline Bank /Cook County Public Guardian pattern continues unabated in the lower Court. Mr. and Mrs. Sallas are elderly and vulnerable – ergo, being a bit disrespectful, it is the position of the defendant/appellant that the trial court ruled that if remedial legislation designed to protect against FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE interferes with the whim and caprice of the Byline Bank & Guardian the said legislation not only can be ignored, but the objecting elderly are silenced![4]
Without discovery, the appellant/defendant has not had the ability to make inquiry as to what if any attunements, special dispensations et al may have been facing him in these proceedings. It is apparent now that the appellant pursuant to the provision of 720 ILCS 5/17 – 56, the appellant might have a serious counterclaim against not only the Byline Bank, but others involved in the trial court proceedings. Section 56 may not come with the hype of a RIC0 action, but not only does this remedial legislation connote a legislative intent that the FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSERS face criminal charges, but on the Civil side the award to be assessed is Triple Damages, plus Attorney fees. So serious was the Illinois Legislature that this remedial legislation be readily available, that it also lowered the Standard of Proof to preponderance of the Evidence.
The appellee is not paranoid in suggesting some sort of attornment or special dispensation by Judge Boliker in approving the Guardian obfuscating a criminal action perpetrated against its ward. He cannot understand Judge Boliker and/or Judge Robles did not forward to Law enforcement a referral in this instant case. It is respectfully suggested that the totality of the facts memorialized in the record herein are a cogent example of FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE barred by Illinois Statutes, and so corrosive to the core values of America that not only must the Summary Judgment be reversed, but a referral to Law enforcement must be made. 18 USCA 4 demands the same.
The demand of the appellant for a referral is not taken lightly. Indeed, it is respectfully submitted that no making such a request would a measure of disrespect by the appellant for himself, but the Justice system. The calculation of loan balances demands the same. No Court can, in my opinion, garner the respect that is demanded to do its job and accept the calculation of a creditor that commences with a initial loan balance on January 25, 2018 and ends two years later after the payment of approximately $20,000 with a new balance of approximately $200,000 more than the initial debt
With all due respect, the Appellant suggests that the concept of EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW as defined by centuries of English and America Equity law cannot tolerate the conduct disclosed by the Byline Bank in this foreclosure suit toward an elderly couple i.e., Dean Sallas and Amelia Sallas. The Summary Judgment of foreclosure and the subsequent orders of Court approving the “sale” of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sallas must be reversed and rendered for nought.
2.
WHEN A PARTY FILES A MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, THAT PARTY TO SUCEED IN HIS MOTION MUST MEET THE CRITERION OF TAKING THE FACTS IN THE LIGHT MOST FAVORABLE TO THE NON=MOVING PARTY THERE IS NOT A CHANCE IN HELL THAT THE NON-MOVING PARTY CAN PREVAIL.
The Judicial system of the State Court is the ‘escape value’ of society and thus the Court system must not only be held to the standard of “Caesar’s wife” but, in fact be free of bias, favoritism, and even the appearance of corruption. Thus, if a citizen is to be denied his right to a trial on the merits by a ‘short cut’ procedure of Summary Judgment the proof of liability cannot be tinged by obvious exaggerated claims for attorney fees, obvious breaches of fiduciary relationship, misleading petitions such as the February 15, 201
It is always interesting to see what entities accept a particular e-mail on a particular subject and where the e-mail does not reach the entity to which it is sent.
Indeed, some of the addresses are old, some are copied wrong etc — On Government e-mail addresses I usually go with the flow and send the -e mails to the address that I was given or that pops up on the computer.
Apparently, a nerve has been hit – I was a little more careless than usual on my last e-mail to you – a bunch of what I thought to be dead e=mail addresses actually appear to have received the e-mail.
The last time this happened was just before the Britney Spears case exploded. (That was the guardian case where this young woman was given a plenary guardian even though she negotiated and performed multi=million dollar contracts! Her obvious incompetency was in NOT protesting more vigorously that her 1st, 4th, 5th and 14th Amendment Rights were violated by The California Courts.
Using the criteria of Spears, anyone at random can be Guardianized. Indeed, in your parents situation that is exactly what has happened.
Methinks that the overt violence in our cities across America may be bringing BIG GOVERNMENT to the realization that our Courts are THE EXCEPT VALUE OF OUR SOCIETY and the lesson that they are teaching is that Anarchy is the wave of the future. DEMONIZATION of your enemies (or perceived enemies) is the norm — GRANDMA is no longer is a favored person in the Little Red Riding Hood story – it is the wolf!
The guardian is doing a public service in today’s “world” He according to current narrative – he is eliminating the elderly so as to make more room for the next crop of oldsters. He is also sharing the wealth!! (Especially with the courthouse criminals! – Judge **** has at least one child to support, and a Byline Bank loan her husband was given to pay off!! – Judge ***** Amy and Dean Sallas are old! The Guardian and judge arranging for burial of Amy Sallas are doing a public service!!! That public service may violate both the Federal and the State Constitution – but – what the H*** – those are outdated documents anyhow. The credo is printed on the back of the dollar bill, to wit: IN JUdge **** we trust!!! (God is also old!)
RE: Knox County Case No. 22 PR 12 and 21 MR 21 –Estate of Fred Stegall SEEKING INFORMATION ON KNOX COUNTY COURT CORRUPTION
Dear Sacred Heart Church
I am the Executive Director of Justice 4 Every1, Not for Profit. I run and manage blogs (www.justice4every1.com and http://www.marygsykes.com) regarding corrupt and abusive guardianships in Chicago and in Illinois and nationwide. There are more than 1600 posts on those blogs about corruption in the courts and horrific abuse of the elderly in Guardianship and then their Estates are looted by attorneys and others in decedent’s estates and these blogs are extremely popular with over 300 hits per day. We are currently seeking information on court corruption in Knox County and in particular in the above case which involves the Fred Stegall Estate. Mr. Stegall unfortunately passed away in January 2022, leaving over 150 acres of farm and timberland, to Tonny and Penny Williamson, two elderly Christian women who cared for Fred Stegall in his final days and spent at least $115,000 to care for him, because his court appointed guardian Curtis Ford and his Guardian ad Litem appointed by Judge Radmussen refused to give Fred Stegall a dime in living expenses for over one year– food, clothing and utilities, despite the fact that Fred Stegall had some $500,000+ in his bank accounts. Instead, over $50,000 went to court appointed lawyers to drain his estate. This, unfortunately is not uncommon in Probate, and in particular, Guardianship cases where the motto is: target, narcotize to guardianize, drain the estate, and when the money runs out, narcotize the elderly person to death and quickly bury the victim to destroy all traces of evidence the person was abused and drugged. Anyone over age 50 can fall a victim to our nation’s thousands of probate courts. It is estimated that at any time, some 1.5 million elderly and disabled persons are locked into expensive guardianship proceedings where Estates are billed at rates from $300 to $400+ per hour, which typically drains the Estate quickly and the victim is typically left penniless and on medicaid and food stamps. In one guardianship case in Cook County, Lorraine Phillips, she was in a guardianship for 5 years and attorneys Franciszkowicz and Martin billed her $4 million estate $1 million in attorney’s fees. The Illinois appellate court apparently thought this was okay, because they never overturned those excessive attorneys fees. In Mr. Stegall’s case, he was left to die in a nursing home and if his friends had not diligently searched and found him, he would have died alone. The Guardian and court appointede Guardian ad Litem (both Illinois licensed attorneys) never told Mr. Stegall’s friends he had been taken by ambulance to a hospital and then a nursing home. All Mr. Stegall’s friends had to figure out where he was and how he had been taken when they abruptly found him missing one day. The Fred Stegall cases have been rocked with controversy and terrible problems. And as a reporter for these blogs I personally have a number of questions: 1. Why is the Diocese of Peoria suing the Williamsons for their dear friend’s farm and timber land? When did churches start suing people to take their land? I personally have been involved with Christian churches for decades and I have never heard of a Christian Church suing an Estate, getting involved in any dispute in an Estate and trying to take farm and timberland from their friends and neighbors. 2. Why did the court and Judge Curtis Lane block all discovery requested by the Williamsons, rush quickly to trial, and why did attorneys Paul Mangieri and John W. Robertson file suit against the Williamsons over this farmland when Fred Stegall made it repeatedly known that he did not want to sue the Williamsons and that James Blake was not his attorney and had never been his attorney? 3. Why did Father Lee Brokaw take the witness stand a few days ago and tell the following lies? a. that Fred attended weekly mass without fail (when Fred did not attend weekly mass all the time, that he depended upon someone driving him since fall of 2020, and b) then his church, Abingdon Church was closed for over a year during Covid, and then c) Brokaw was not even the pastor there, so how would he know?) Father Brokaw was not the priest for Fred Stegall and rarely if ever saw him. All good questions. 4. Why is attorney John Robertson standing in the court hallways and telling witnesses that the Williamsons are “crooks and scam artists?” When in fact these are good, kind Christian ladies who took care of 95 year old Fred Stegall for over a year in his final days and spent over $115,000 on his care when the Guardian ad Litem and Guardian of the Person and court would not give him a dime for living expenses and necessaries? 5. Why did Father Lee Brokaw provide false testimony to the court that the Williamsons prevented him from giving Fred Stegall last rites when in fact they had no control over that. At the time of his death he was in a Guardianship and only his Guardian ad Litem and court appointed Guardian (Curtis Ford and Patrick Egan) who could have done that. The Williamsons actually drove Fred to Catholic Church numerous times when he was too frail to drive himself. But the bigger question is why is the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Peoria getting involved in Estates to try to take land from citizens via contested and expensive probate proceedings. If you have any information on this case and why the proceedings are so very strange and troublesome I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. I am a reporter for two popular blogs on court corruption and you may provide me with statements “off record” and I would keep everything in confidence. (Illinois does in fact have a “reporter’s privilege law”) It’s time to clean up the court system in Illinois, and I and other concerned citizens would greatly appreciate your help in doing so. Remember that the greatest cure for corruption is always sunshine which is a tremendous cure for corruption. If you have any information about this case or Judge Lane or Attorneys Paul Mangieri or John Robertson, I would greatly appreciate your bringing this information to my attention so that justice may be done. You are welcome to call, fax or email me with the information and it will be kept in confidence. If you call me, please email or text me first so I know you are a real person and not a robo call or spammer. And please pray for these dear, kind ladies that justice may be done. Thank you. Sincerely, Joanne Denison Executive Director, Justice 4 Every1, NFP Blogger and dedicated to accountability in the courts
MaryGSykes.com 