Opinion ID: 2735558
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mr. Gardner’s New Appointment

Text: On June 7, 2010, the court held a hearing to determine whether the conservatorship should be terminated. During this hearing, an Assistant Deputy Register of Wills explained that there was no evidence in the record “that there was ever a conservator for the person of the ward,” and it was necessary to appoint a conservator of the person to make medical decisions on behalf of Mr. Smith. However, because personal service could not be obtained, a new intervention proceeding could not be initiated. This created a “conundrum.” To ensure that the ward had a fiduciary to make medical decisions on his behalf, the deputy suggested 9 that the court issue “an order specifically appointing a conservator of the person” with the power to make full medical decisions on the ward‟s behalf. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Kaye Christian explained that she would issue an order “appointing Mr. Gardner as the conservator of the person of Edward T. Smith” to make “decisions with respect to his daily care, medical decisions, and other decisions that are required for him to be made by a courtappointed fiduciary.” On June 11, Judge Christian issued an order appointing Mr. Gardner “conservator of the person of Edward T. Smith, ward, with full legal powers to make medical decisions on the ward‟s behalf.” The Certificate of Appointment issued on August 11, 2010, stated that this appointment had been made “pursuant to the provisions of D.C. Code, section 21-1506 et seq. (1967 ed.),” granting him “full legal powers to make medical decisions on behalf of the ward.” In January 2011 Judge Wertheim ordered that the conservatorship of the estate be terminated but “that the conservatorship of the person shall continue.” That conservatorship of the person was effectively terminated when Mr. Smith died in 2013. 10