Opinion ID: 1481116
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The trial court vacates the guardianship and the conservatorship; the parties react.

Text: On October 24, 2002, the court held a hearing to consider Dr. Sack's findings, which turned out to be favorable with regard to Ms. Jumper's ability to conduct her affairs. Dr. Sack testified that when he met with Ms. Jumper, she was oriented as to time, place and person and that she was able to answer [Dr. Sack's] questions rather logically. Dr. Sack talked with Ms. Jumper at length about the guardianship proceeding, and Ms. Jumper told Dr. Sack about the people who were involved in her care and dealing with her monetary affairs. Based on his examination, Dr. Sack concluded that Ms. Jumper was competent to make wise decisions with the help of other people. She was very good at enrolling other people to aid her and help her and she spoke highly of their aid. Dr. Sack reported that Ms. Jumper's main irritation or complaint, about which Ms. Jumper had strong feelings, was that Ms. Jumper felt that she was being quote, controlled, unquote by Mr. Anderson. [6] Given Dr. Sack's positive findings about Ms. Jumper, and observing that [n]o evidence controverting Dr. Sack's testimony was presented regarding Ms. Jumper's competency, on October 28, 2002, the court vacated Mr. Anderson's appointment as Guardian and Ms. Sloan's appointment as Conservator. The court found that Sally Jumper ha[d] the present competency to make decisions regarding her medical affairs and financial affairs including the ability to appoint persons to assist her with these matters; and that Sally Jumper has created the Sally A. Jumper Trust encompassing the whole of her present and future estate. Then things got really interesting. Ms. Kincaid, the attorney who advised Ms. Jumper in connection with the 2001 Trust, testified that several days after the court affirmed that Ms. Jumper was competent, Ms. Jumper sought completely to disinherit Mr. Anderson. According to Ms. Kincaid, Ms. Jumper was very angry with Allen and that he had caused this big mess and she was very upset about all that had happened because of it and all the people that [were] suddenly involved in her life. Ms. Jumper was frustrated by new people coming in and out and asking her questions, and was angry about the whole situation and she said that she just didn't want. . . Allen to have anything. So, per Ms. Jumper's wishes, Ms. Kincaid prepared additional documents, the primary purpose of which was to essentially eliminate a provision in favor of Allen Anderson, as well as to put Colonel Verfurth on as a joint trustee with her at that time. Ms. Kincaid testified that Col. Verfurth had no involvement in the preparation of [those] documents. In the meantime, although they were unaware of the latest documents that Ms. Jumper had executed, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Anderson were not standing by quietly. Mr. Rogers felt that Dr. Sack's investigation of Ms. Jumper was, to put it mildly, deficient. Mr. Rogers testified about Dr. Sack: I think he was a, I don't want to use the word `quack,' but he obviously was incompetent. Mr. Rogers, however, decided that no further judicial measures would be fruitful, and chose not to seek reconsideration of the order vacating the guardianship. Instead, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Anderson decided to undo the 2001 documents by going to Ms. Jumper directly, recording each of the meetings on audio tape. Thus, a few weeks after the trial court vacated Mr. Anderson's guardianship, with the case still open only for the trial court to consider fee petitions from the various persons appointed in connection with the matter, Mr. Anderson met with Ms. Jumper. According to Mr. Anderson, Ms. Jumper told him that she was not represented by Ms. Kincaid's firm. Professing that he sought to be satisfied that [Ms. Jumper's] wishes were being followed, Mr. Anderson phoned Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers prepared a legal document that Mr. Anderson and Mr. Rogers took to a meeting with Ms. Jumper. It appears that the document that Mr. Rogers brought to that meeting was a Statement of SALLY JUMPER; the Statement purported to reinstate the 1995 Trust (complete with the 40% distribution of her estate to Mr. Anderson). On February 1, 2003, and February 7 (or 8), 2003, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Rogers met with Ms. Jumper again. At those meetings, Messrs. Anderson and Rogers presented for Ms. Jumper's signature additional legal documents that Mr. Rogers prepared and that altered the designation of the trustee for Ms. Jumper. On February 14, 2003  approximately three and one-half months after the guardianship was vacated  Mr. Rogers, following a suggestion that Mr. Anderson gave in his email of February 3, noticed a deposition of Dr. Schneider, Ms. Jumper's physician. Col. Verfurth's attorney wrote to Dr. Schneider that she could not be deposed because Ms. Jumper had not waived the confidentiality of her medical records. Dr. Schneider in turn wrote to Mr. Rogers that she would not participate in a deposition unless a subpoena were issued forcing her to do so.