A petition was recently filed in San Diego probate court, through an attorney, by the family of James Donald Hess. They accused his new wife and former caregiver of “physically and verbally abusing him and asserting undue influence over him.”
The family claims that a caregiver named Nicky convinced Hess to marry her after just a few months. Hess and Nicky Shepard—now Nicky Hess—were married in October 2017. Hess was 86-years-old. Nicky was 64. Don’s daughter told the TV station that when Nicky met her dad, she was married. However, she was a newlywed. Two weeks after her divorce was final, she married her father.
The investigation discovered that Nicky had been divorced at least five times. The family alleged Nicky convinced her new elderly husband to “withdraw large sums of money from his investment accounts” and that she “forged [his] name on documents,” according to the petition.
The petition also states that Nicky placed his health “in extreme danger,” by altering his medication. Don is now hospitalized, and the family said his heart stopped for several minutes. He has also suffered from renal failure and pneumonia.
The battle has the parties in probate court, where the judge acknowledged the difference of opinion regarding Mr. Hess’s marriage.
“I know that you have very different views about whether this is on one hand, a recent marriage of an elderly person to his caregiver and the vulnerability that that can present and the possibility of financial abuse versus, on the other hand, a person who is engaging in his right in his older years to find love and get married,” said Judge Julia Kelety.
The petition asked that Don be removed from the new trust made late last year. The children claim Don wasn’t competent at the time. The petition said the new trust all but disinherits his children in favor of Nicky.
The judge has temporarily suspended Nicky as successor trustee, until another court appearance.
The National Council on Aging has found that elder financial abuse is likely underreported. A 2015 study found this type of abuse and fraud costs older Americans $36.5 billion a year.
Reference: ABC 10 News San Diego (March 29, 2018) “Family questions elderly father’s marriage to caregiver”
Kyle Robbins
Kyle Robbins is the founder and sole owner of The Law
Offices of Kyle Robbins. He received his J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law and his B.S. in Food Chemistry and Microbiology from Oklahoma State University.
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