Power of Attorney/Elder Abuse Case in Cook County
If you gave me a comb-over every time a government worker took advantage of an elderly person, I'd be Donald Trump. The latest case can be found here (you can skip CBS 2's slideshow on openly gay celebrities if you want). Karen Bailey is accused of forging a power of attorney to get access to the funds of a woman named Mary Ann Wilson. Some of the shocking details:
1. Ms. Bailey is "a top assistant to Cook County Commissioner Jerry 'The Iceman' Butler," singer of such R&B classics as "Only the Strong Survive."
2. "Bailey earns $64,000 a year and is well known within the County Building for her side business of selling sex toys." Huh?
3. Not so amusing -- Ms. Wilson "was discovered in her home, totally abandoned, in feces, confused, [unable] to walk or talk, and had lost a lot of weight."
The nice thing about powers of attorney -- which have become more prevalent in recent years -- is that they allow individuals you trust to handle your property without needing to go to court and obtain a guardianship. The downside is that there aren't many checks and balances on powers of attorney, so unscrupulous people can use them to take advantage pretty easily.
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