The Asbury Park Press Investigations Team ran a shocking four-part series exploring guardianship abuse. “Betrayal of Trust: Stealing From Seniors” features the story of a New Jersey elder law attorney and court-appointed guardian who stole millions of dollars from over 16 wards under her supervision, including seniors in their 80s and 90s.
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An interview at the Jordan Rich Show from July 29, 2015 – Advocating Parental Visitation Legislation.
Falk’s daughter Catherine Falk is now touring states asking for legal changes that would allow children to visit their parents in the hospital or a care facility.
“When my father was very sick, my sister and I weren’t given access. We couldn’t see him,” Catherine Falk said. Peter Falk suffered from Alzheimer’s and died in 2011. His second wife kept his children from him in his last illness. “It was his last days, and you just want to spend time with your father,” Catherine Falk said. She is travelling from state to state asking for a streamlined legal process that would allow children to visit their parents.
CATHERINE FALK, the daughter of beloved actor Peter Falk aka Columbo, is waging a state-by-state campaign to grant children access to an elderly or incapacitated parent who is under someone else’s care, & her visiting-rights bills are advancing in New York and California. If the bills go into effect, it could provide a useful model for legislation in other states.
A Utah senator is working on a bill that would protect the right of adult children to visit ailing parents. Woods Cross Republican Sen. Todd Weiler said the daughter of the late actor Peter Falk asked if he would sponsor visitation legislations as part of her push for similar laws around the country.
Across the country, there’s been a sharp rise in adult children being denied access to their ailing parents. Several states are starting to take notice and moving forward with legislation that would open up visitation rights to children.
In Falk’s case, she and her stepmother, Shera Denise Falk, were locked in a nasty court battle over conservatorship and access to the elder Falk for years.
Catherine Falk pushing for parental visitation laws. She’s the daughter of the late Peter Falk. Catherine says she was kept from seeing her father.
The daughter of Peter Falk joins Newsmax Now to discuss the Peter Falk Bill.
THIS BILL HAS BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT! PETER FALK’S HOME STATE OF NEW YORK IS THE RIGHT STATE FOR THIS BILL TO START
Los Angeles, CA – Catherine Falk – (www.catherinefalkorganization.org), the youngest daughter of TV/ film star Peter Falk, who was loved by millions as COLUMBO, announced today that The Peter Falk Bill is closer to being a reality in the state of New York.
NY State Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli (D) of Syracuse is sponsoring The Peter Falk Bill A.3461 which is in the legislation and being decided on by the New York state assembly. At the same time New York State Senator John DeFrancisco (R), who serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee is sponsoring and introducing the bill S.5154 in the current NY state senate session. In addition, there are 12 other assemblyman and woman who support this bill.
Assemblyman Magnarelli states, “This piece of legislation will ensure that the rights of adult children are respected when their parent is under a conservatorship. It guarantees their basic right to be informed about significant changes in their parent’s condition, including death and burial arrangements. It also provides a procedural path for adult children to petition the court for visitation if they believe their parent is being improperly isolated from them. This bill will be named in the honor of the late Peter Falk, renowned actor, New York native and Syracuse University Alumnus.”
Catherine Falk states, “My parents met while attending Syracuse University and we are all graduates of that great school, so Syracuse and New York is the right state for this bill to start.”
Catherine Falk has been on a journey that started 2009-2010 when she went to trial fighting in probate court for visitation rights under the conservatorship umbrella with her dad’s second spouse; who was isolating not only Catherine but also her sister Jackie, family members, his first wife Alyce and friends.
Falk maintains that “Once again greed and money were at the bottom of the problem for isolation of an elderly parent.” During the court case Falk turned to her then attorney and told him that they must create and write a bill that would pass a law to prevent this from happening again to anyone in the future.
In 2011 Catherine Falk and her then attorney created and pioneered the first draft for the California visitation rights bill AB1085 which was the first of its kind for California. Assemblyman Mike Gatto of Burbank, CA sponsored the bill, which is expected to become law in the State of California.
Catherine Falk is brave and with her own money is funding this bill. No donations are being asked for or accepted. As a matter of fact Catherine does not believe anyone with a similar bill should ever make money from this kind of work! Falk said “It seems that people get side tracked and try to get fame and fortune from getting bills like this passed, I seek neither; I truly want to see no one else lose precious time with their parent.”
Catherine Falk now has huge momentum in New York State for this bill to pass. This year is the 4th Anniversary of Peter Falk’s death; it would be great to get this bill passed in NY State this year. Falk states that ‘My dad always told me “go get them kid” He always taught me to stay true to myself and stay true to who I am, and to fight for what I know is right…Just one more thing Ma’am…was truly how he lived his life on and off the screen.”
Falks Publicist, Roger Neal said, “Many stars are lining up to support the Peter Falk Bill including: Ron Masak star of Murder She Wrote who was a friend of Peter Falk for many years, Kerry and Kimmy Rooney the children of movie star legend Mickey Rooney; who know all too well what Falk and many others are going thru when denied access to their ailing parent by a step parent. In addition, Jackie Falk and their mother Alyce Falk (Peter Falk’s first wife) are in full support of Catherine and this bill”
LOGAN CLARKE, renowned investigator of human trafficking supports the Peter Falk Bill.
Catherine Falk said “I am very excited and hopeful that the NY ASSEMBLY and the NY STATE SENATE will pass the Peter Falk Bill. Falk stated that The Peter Falk Bill is also being considered in the states of New Jersey, Washington D.C., Florida, Utah, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine.
CONTACT: ROGER NEAL @ NEAL PR 323-366-2796 OR prstarus2000@yahoo.com
PR FIRM FOR CATHERINE FALK AND THE PETER FALK BILL
