Man faces legal hurdles to restore rights after guardianship

A retired engineer, placed in guardianship, is fighting to get his rights restored. More than $200,000 of Doug Keegan's savings has been spent to keep him in guardianship over the last five years as he wages his legal battle from an extended stay hotel in Orlando.

[@SugarCreekOffGrid]

The big problem here is that the courts are the ones who are committing this crime against humanity. With a list of Drs on their kick back list to support them. These guardianships need to be abolished.

[@ricladouceur6202]

Imagine having your guardians using your money to fight you from being removed from guardianship.

[@ellieventrulli264]

This should frighten everyone of us!! Everyone involved is ripping him off...

[@beneaththecrust4661]

Ellie Ventrulli, it certainly frightens me.

[@megalou6567]

That lawyer needs to be in a guardianship himself.

[@gregs.2679]

He belongs in a prison, not a guardianship. You have to wonder how many other perfectly competent people he has done this to just to be able to make $350 an hour for legal “work” the he himself created the presumed “need” for.

[@fairymairah]

I not only agree. there's plenty of people who act like they're Good but have no problem taking away someone else's Rights and all.

[@mobee9181]

his family needs to be in prison as well

[@doradestroy]

That attorney who called him incompetent should be in prison.

[@mourningwarbler]

Magistrate too.

[@kentclark9740]

That evil judge that committed him should be fired and take away his license and all the money lost should be replaced including lawyer fees.

[@courtneycarnevale3736]

That guardianship attorney should be ashamed of himself. The way he's talking n the way he can't distinguish between competence from incapacitated leads me to believe that he belongs in a guardianship n should no longer be practicing law. He clearly has no idea what's going on.

[@iwal1645]

Can you imagine if you're poor? Which senior citizen has the time and education to fight this? Guardianship is a scam.

[@ab935]

they don't go after the poor, they go after people worth ripping off

[@debbyparker4436]

It only happens to people that have $$$ or property or assets that can be liquidated that greedy SOB's want .😠

[@sinebar]

The poor have no money otherwise every alcoholic homeless bum would be under guardianship.

[@nickcoppard5335]

No profit in poor people

[@ASurfgirl]

@@sinebar right! I was gonna say poor ppl they just let be homeless if they REALLY needed help. This is just a scam to take ppl money and property

[@EmmaDee]

He sounds exactly like he knows what he’s saying and doing.

[@kentclark9740]

Evil lawyer needs to be in jail.

[@marciasouthwick9748]

Fletcher claims Keegan doesn't understand what the judge is saying. Outrageous! Fletcher is making $350 an hour by keeping Keegan stuck, pinned to the wall as he charges his account anytime he wants. The conflict of interest is appalling. Fletcher has not only lost his moral compass but he also lost any semblance of decency.

[@EmmaDee]

Fletcher needs to be investigated.

[@dallasstiles118]

Couldn't have said it better. Meanwhile Mr. Keegan has to shop at dollar tree. He actually seems more cogent than the hack sucking up all his money.

[@marciasouthwick9748]

@@dallasstiles118 His hobby could be advanced calculus and this attorney would STILL argue that Kegan was incapable of understanding what the judge is saying.

[@dallasstiles118]

@@marciasouthwick9748 there was a similar case in my hometown, I think there's a piece available online about it from the Kansas City Star. If I recall, the ward of one of the public administrators is an engineer and despite his best attempts he can't get free.

[@WoodlandsRiver]

@@EmmaDee He needs to be disbarred & listed on a national wall of shame

[@kentclark9740]

Their doctor should be in jail to and see how much he was paid to be part of the scam.

[@suzannehartmann946]

He has a right to have a second and third opinion from a doctor and a new lawyer after the judge reviews the lawyer he chooses.

[@arayabuchichi3798]

Guardianship is a legal way to get his money 💴 and properties

[@ellieventrulli264]

Yes it is... So sad.. What the he'll is going on?!!!

[@arayabuchichi3798]

ellie ventrulli he married a woman from Kenya 🇰🇪 then put this guy on guardianship and they rob this guy

[@aprillondon11]

What a terrible family. I wish him well.

[@zr71offroad20]

No, that 350 Dollar an hour lawyer is doing this out of the goodness of his heart.

[@fairymairah]

I agree. Lots of People got terrible Families.

[@geina4412]

The guardianship lawyer should be placed under guardianship. His losing his mind.

[@jetglasss80]

Going after him is a complete waste of time. You want to put an end to this corruption you start going for the head of the snake and not it’s tail. That would be the judges.

[@john6728]

Imagine working hard and retiring early. Just for some scammers using the legal system to strip you of your hard-earned money. A scammer (guardianship lawyer) calling another person (the black woman) a scammer. Some people have no soul.

[@EmmaDee]

Shame on that Lawyer fletcher.

[@SolidSonicTH]

That lawyer sounds like a lawyer for some corporation who is clearly guilty of like...illegal toxic dumping or something. Being completely obtuse and unreasonable just to make their client sound like they did nothing wrong when everyone in the real world can see obvious duplicity going on.

[@EmmaDee]

I’m sorry Mr Keegan.

[@revelation777a3]

Despicable people that took everything from him .He seems to know what he says . They kidnap him , with the help with the court . They are all in it ..

[@arayabuchichi3798]

This is abusive probate guardianship what a sad unjust situation

[@rogers1770]

The guardian shall support clients to regain control. Otherwise, the guardian is a fraud.

[@gw2315]

Wow monopoly of the legal system for profit I think so! Ugh these lawyers should be disbarred

[@zr71offroad20]

Afterwards, maybe some discussions with a large angry mob.

[@journey2mee]

That guardian lawyer is slimey as hell. This guardianship business needs to be scrapped. All these people keeping this man under this guardianship are evil and soulless.

[@tamigreene2709]

I wonder if they try to "help" people who has no funds?

[@25242824]

who else can see right through that attorney ?, that attorney is an evil con artist who is insisting a perfectly sound minded man is unable to understand logic in order to protect his cashcow, that attorney is committing fraud and fleecing this man, that attorney should be in jail, it's obvious to see that man is fine.

[@victorianmelody46]

Will someone please put this arrogant blood sucking attorney's name in the article? Greed makes people evil. His family seems complicit in this injustice also.

[@pamelamercado6902]

My heart goes out to this gentleman they definitely need to clean up their act I don't know how they could disregard a doctors knowledge intelligence and opinion they've taken his money his property in years that he could have been enjoying life

[@android927]

"He doesn't know what's in his own best interest." That lawyer is making the same argument that slaveowners used to make to justify owning slaves.

[@janetsmith-velazquez3722]

He totally understands. He earns money,

[@tiffanywitherspoon2433]

Need to look at the judge's also

[@PunkMartyr]

I wonder how smug that lawyer will be when he feels the fires of hell

[@michelleparker9591]

So sad what greedy people can get away with. Poor man.

[@Smart-Towel-RG-400]

They need to change the law in every state stopping these things

[@Galworld761]

My parents are old and they are a pain in the butt. They have assets. I love them. They are my pain in the butt. I would never strip their rights and take their homes and cash. Just because at times, I don’t like their choices - that does not mean they are incapacitated.

[@kellyjohnson2203]

I think the attorney Fletcher doesn't have the mental capacity to understand logic not Mr Keegan. Someone should report Mr Fletcher to the bar association.

[@stella6516]

TOTAL RACKET.

[@motherofthreeb6337]

Appalling!

[@shawndoe4907]

That whole thing seemed backwards. The guardian should have the clients best interest at heart. Not their money.

[@DraGnFly007]

I'm guessing the poor don't qualify?

[@marciasouthwick9748]

"Best interest" standard is no standard at all. Everything going on here has been in FLETCHER'S best interest for 7 years.

[@ballbearing5459]

I don't need to worry about guardianship I'm poor !

[@bminnie2233]

Ummm the Guardians lawyer looked a bit off to me, sorta like he lost his marbles himself. Smh. maybe he is the one that needs a Guardian himself instead. Tables will turn.

[@ellenadams7354]

This ridiculous!!!! This is America!!! 🛐😓🛐😓🛐😓🛐😓✝️

[@jws1948ja]

I want to know the guardian's name.

[@strangevisions5162]

Part of getting your law license is having your sense of morality and decency stripped by the Bar ...although not much to strip from most students anyway

[@Ifnotbeyoubeme]

So his family wanted his money when he dies and he was spending it on hisself so they had to stop him. This is sick

[@susannarducci3350]

Wow..we are all living in different reality. 😥

[@kathrinelester7050]

I Pray this Man is made whole again these courts are RICO NATIONALLY ALL FOR $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[@renamendiola2082]

These types of guardianship are a scam. You don't see poor people having to go through this because they don't have money these scammers want. All these "organizations" should be banned and families take care of their loved ones. I know, some families are also just as bad if not worse. But the other is just legalizing elder abuse.

[@fairymairah]

Now I can see why Rich people are un-happy.

[@ja6368]

I have a brother that is challenged, but this fellow is obviously capable although he probably is vulnerable to suggestions which is bad for him. He allows others to manipulate him, sad.

[@dallasstiles118]

Too bad this isn't a rare occurence.

[@fairymairah]

I don't understand why some People find it good to make it legal to take away someone else's rights and freedom just to probably let the Gaurdian to get away with probably lying about your mental health. lying about anything that you might not have. and give you care that you might not need at all.

[@Babu-kr3cr]

His problem is that he goes along with the program. What if he took their little MC and went to a health food store and got a sandwich and a smoothie? What will they do, lock him up for not eating their prescribed junk food? How can they tell him where to eat and shop, and it is all junky unhealthy food anyway? He has more lucidity when he speaks than that crooked no good lawyer that is lying about him. He shows no signs of dementia or alcoholism.

[@timbeatty11]

This is why we need to just ban the use of guardianships unless the person wants to be in one.

[@CanadianBisdak]

Stupid attorney, how dare he said, “he doesn’t have the right”? Look at this attorney’s greedy face!

[@nicholewhite4067]

He does have rights

[@dw8723]

Same thing happened to my father in Australia Victoria at the hands of a civil and administrative tribunal member VCAT collaborators with Guardianship Office of the Public Advocate OPA. I was also threatened by the lawyer acting on behalf of OPA. These people are cruel and are tyrants.

[@mattdunkley130]

Look at this lawyer lying his ass off

[@Sharon-sw7mr]

His family just wants his money. The man clearly is fine.

[@love_wins_2218]

This is the reason I had six kids. This will never happen to me.

[@lisalynch629]

Scary

[@christinakoria4518]

Attorney Fetcher wants money himself. I wish these people would stop lying. That engineer is more than capable. He’s obviously smarter than that Those who are trying to keep him from his money. What a greedy world we live in!

[@Confessions089]

Hopefully things will change.

[@lauh4rl]

Not democratic

[@DraGnFly007]

No. It's demonic!

[@donnalichvarcik9358]

These scam artists are only using you to hurt you friends family and other people are the best scammers in the world and for there money as well they all should go to prison

[@nicholewhite4067]

Maybe that lawyer should be in guardianship then wel see

[@DraGnFly007]

SHHhhaaAAMMEFUL!

[@sethfletcher3772]

Listen to that attorney just lying his azz off

[@danielmulcahi6327]

Lawyer for guardian needs to be disbared and disaplined

[@hillbillyrose6026]

With all due respect, the Counselor Fletcher seems he needs cognitive appraisal..it seems like he’s not able to perform his duties competently. He doesn’t seem to understand the case and seems unable to describe it accurately or address questions. Concerning.

[@WarofThoughts]

His competency to perpetrate fraud and break the law is off the charts. I've never seen an attorney go on television and so boldly admit to what they were doing. Most attorneys are at least intelligent enough to not talk to the media, and certainly not admit to such questionable behavior.

[@KN-ev1tq]

I just searched Kyle Fletcher, the attorney who said "(Keegan) doesnt' understand ANYthing you're saying....if you understand what I'm saying". After listening to Keegan, I can't believe Fletcher is still practicing law. He is a scammer far worse than anything that Nigerian woman might have tried to pull, if she did at all.

[@WarofThoughts]

"He doesn't understand what the judge is saying, if YOU understand what I'm saying. And if you don't, that will be $350 an hour for me to explain it to you."

[@dianadowie3985]

This is so sad and is so wrong. The guardianship and his lawyer are stealing his money and the court is helping them. So wrong.

[@lettucetacoboutit7974]

There really needs to be me oversight in these guardianships/conservativeship there needs to be more accountability It’s exploiting ethically wrong Automatic 25 years no ifs ands or butts and a registry preventing these ppl from working with vulnerable populations

[@tobyt6901]

Poor Nora!

[@peggyd2352]

Seems this guardianship law needs abolished.Another money stealing scam with alot of accomplises.

[@sandbridgekid4121]

Guardianship in Florida sounds like a huge scam.

[@floridagal4life]

I'm here because of the Wendy Williams documentary. Just trying to see what others are going through with guardianship. 😮

[@zeoinfinitneospace2134]

Some guardianship is just trash and the judge should be a shame in their self is that no matter how hard you're trying to take away their freedom they're human beings 😡😡😡

[@urikayan2368]

How does this happen?

[@davidlamunyon9087]

Law! There are a lot of psychologist that should see a shrink.

[@kristinacrawford8826]

Anyone with a substance use disorder should be scared. This could happen to anyone with money

[@jayurban8282]

The joke is on the family members that turned him over to that corrupt doctor, lawyer and judge. The money will be all gone in a few short years and it gets real toasty in hell.

[@sha.neta1]

Ridiculous they be the foul ones watch " I Care Alot " Highly recommend about guardianship abuse

[@duddydud]

Columbine ...........wow

[@nicholewhite4067]

Lawyer is a leach

[@sinebar]

Yeah they tested his wallet and apparently he was found wealthy and ripe for the pickings.

[@sinebar]

People have a right to make bad decisions with money and life. The problem here is no body wants to work anymore so they're going after old people's money. It's fucking millennials, sadly my generation, who are too fucking lazy to do real work so this is the kind of shit they do. The elderly are now just considered commodities.

[@killingerk]

yes I would have to laugh if he had weapons and they try to drag him out of his house

[@stupidevilmanguy]

WTF

[@user-jp5zj7hk6m]

to imagine that in guardianships, your lawyer is actually the one trying to keep you there instead of help you out, i feel like the justice system is failing people in that sense. paying for an attorney that doesnt actually fight for your rights? i would never pay a lawyer to keep me in jail longer

[@protectingyourself4263]

Millions of people have problems with alcohol. Millions of men AND women date bad people who want their money. Are we going to allow the court system to "Big Brother" every adult who has ever made a bad decision? I wish you'd post the name of that facebook group mentioned early in the report.

[@iMatti00]

👨‍⚖️ ~ It takes a jury to even put you in jail for one year for a misdemeanor charge. Many states allow you to even have a jury in a speeding ticket. But you have your children taken away in a custody case or have your parental rights removed takes only a judge in many states. And have you locked away in a guardianship case for 30 years and have all your money taken from you is only by a single judge. If the founding fathers knew how guardianship cases would have came about in the future then they would have made it clear that they are covered by a jury as well.e

[@dw8723]

Same thing happened to my father in Australia Victoria at the hands of a civil and administrative tribunal member VCAT collaborators with Guardianship Office of the Public Advocate OPA. I was also threatened by the lawyer acting on behalf of OPA. These people are cruel and are tyrants.