Nutshells

CDEL offers volunteer attorneys of all experience levels:

Primary malpractice insurance
Electronic transmittal of case and matter files
Use of CDEL’s office and conference space, if requested
Peer mentoring upon request

If you are a licensed Illinois attorney and are interested in assisting with one of the following legal matters on behalf of CDEL:

Please contact us at volunteer@cdelaw.org. Please include the case number assigned to the matter(s).

Center for Disability & Elder Law

79 W. Monroe

Suite 919

Chicago, IL 60603

Phone: 312.376.1880

Fax: 312.376.1885

www.cdelaw.org

Please find the current Nutshells of open files below. If you are interested in any of the files described here,

February 1, 2012

Elder Abuse:

Elder Financial Abuse (12-0065A): Candidate, 93, is almost completely blind. Candidate had a “caregiver” who became Power of Attorney for Healthcare and Property. Candidate agreed to sell caregiver her condo in monthly installments. Candidate remembers signing numerous papers, but did not know that she signed a quit claim deed to the caregiver. Caregiver has not made payments for the condo in accordance with the agreement, and condo is now in caregiver’s name. Candidate needs assistance recovering title to her home. (ES-1)

Elder Financial Abuse (11-3284D): Candidate, 66, entered into an agreement with his “friend” that Candidate would lend friend his life savings of $80,000 to start a business. Friend was to pay Candidate 10% interest every six months. This agreement was signed and notarized. After the first 6 months Candidate asked for his interest payment, but friend has not paid any interest to date and friend refusing to reply to Candidate’s demands. Candidate has made a police report, but the police will not assist stating that it is a civil case. Candidate needs assistance recovering his life savings. (JG-1)

Consumer:

Consumer Fraud (11-1550A): Candidate, 65, hired a contractor to remove a small spot of mold in her basement and made a down payment. The contractor removed personal belongings from her basement, persuaded her to complete more work than was originally contracted for, and in the process damaged the candidate’s electrical meters. Candidate renegotiated the contract, reduced the amount owed, and the contractor sent an electrician to assess the meters. Candidate regrets the renegotiated amount and believes the contractor should have paid her. Candidate has not recovered her belongings and believes the contractor is selling them online. (LM-1)

Contract Dispute (11-3284D): Candidate, 66, entered into an agreement with his friend that Candidate would lend friend his life savings of $80,000 to start a business. Friend was to pay Candidate 10% interest every six months. This agreement was signed and notarized. After the first six months, Candidate asked for his interest payment, but friend has not paid any interest to date and friend refusing to reply to Candidate’s demands. Candidate has made a police report and is also in contact with an elder abuse case manager. (JG-1)

Family Law

Dissolution of Marriage (12-0033A): Candidate, 69, would like to get a dissolution of marriage from Candidate’s estranged husband from whom she has been separated from since 1984. Candidate does not know husband’s current address and they do not have any real property together, nor do they have minor children. (BB-1)

Will/Probate

Simple Will (12-0067A): Candidate, 61, already has a will and would like make updates on the executors and last wishes. (JK-1)

Simple Will (12-0109A): Candidate, 67, would like a living will and power of attorney documents created. (WR-1)

Real Estate

Real Estate (12-0063A): Candidate, 65, lives in a condo purchased with the proceeds from the sale of a previous home she owned with her uncle. Candidate’s son had the home titled in his name, and later transferred title to Candidate’s sister because Candidate had various medical issues. Candidate’s sister is now ill, and Candidate is concerned that she has no rights to the home in which she lives. Candidate’s sister is in agreement with transferring title to Candidate. However, Candidate may also have a large amount of debt from her medical bills. Candidate needs assistance assuring she will be able to stay in her home and considering the possible consequences of the medical debt. (BS-1)

Landlord/Tenant (11-2970A): Candidate, 70, has not had her security deposit returned to her from her former landlord. Landlord has not responded to demand letter, and claims that Candidate damaged the apartment. Candidate needs assistance negotiating with landlord or filing small claims suit. (SM-1)