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Mac, I think we all agree with that recommendation from A-1 and Kangan. Find a lawyer. Protect your rights.

Blaise (imported) wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:24 am Mac, I think we all agree with that recommendation from A-1 and Kangan. Find a lawyer. Protect your rights.

Sounds all well and good, but has anyone checked lately on how much it costs to hire a lawyer? My niece's lawyer in her divorce has already cost her over $10,000, and the divorce isn't even final yet. When she told her lawyer she wanted to go for full custody of her kid, the lawyer said, "How? You don't have any money."

He has already milked her for all she had.

I don't think one is going to be too impressed with Wolfie's $37 a day, not when he charges $250 an hour or more.

You can find legal aid societies in most large cities and I am sure that Mackie has consulted such an organization in the past.

Mackie, get going... O.K.?

Slammr (imported) wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:40 am Sounds all well and good, but has anyone checked lately on how much it costs to hire a lawyer? My niece's lawyer in her divorce has already cost her over $10,000, and the divorce isn't even final yet. When she told her lawyer she wanted to go for full custody of her kid, the lawyer said, "How? You don't have any money."

He has already milked her for all she had.

I don't think one is going to be too impressed with Wolfie's $37 a day, not when he charges $250 an hour or more.

I suggest that your niece contact her local and/ or state bar association.

I know of a Lawyer who charged a man 21k to defend him in court for a drunk driving charge.

HE consulted bar association and they put him in touch with a local attorney who sued the lawyer that charged him 21k and won the case.

The lawyer who over-charged him ended up disbarred and now practices with his brother.

Lawyers are NOT above the law.

I've looked and haven't found any legal aid within 10 ten miles of me.

Bear in mind I'm hoofing it.

On 61 year old hoofs - heh hen

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:35 pm I've looked and haven't found any legal aid within 10 ten miles of me.

Bear in mind I'm hoofing it.

On 61 year old hoofs - heh hen

I understand, but you do have resources to protect.

Right now, my biggest concern is fighting depression.

* Mom being in nursing home

* Chance she'll die soon.

* Lack of transportation

* My computer is getting old

* And my Time Warner cable is acting up. Repair guy is due Thursday afternoon.

Too much all at one time. Alas, such is life.

Never boring.

You don't need us bosing you around. I understand. Take care of yourself. I have limited resosurces and I feel some of the sort of pressure you feel, though without having to deal with a seriously ill parent.

There is probably some old saying that says " just when things seem at their darknest, a ray of light appears."

In my case, it just became darker.

I received a warning letter from San Bernardino County Central Collections on a traffic ticket I received three years ago for driving without a seatbelt. It says I owe $1,231.00 and they've suspended my drivers license and failure to pay may mean additional criminal penalities including fines or jail time.

I called them and explained the problem but they want their money so told me to abandon my mother and go to work to earn them their money. Failure to pay them and they will garnish my wages (what wages), attachment of assets (no assets here in my name except a car than doesn't run) or they will intercept my tax return.

Any free legal advice I'll gladly accept.

Beam me up Scotty....anyplace but here.

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:41 am There is probably some old saying that says " just when things seem at their darknest, a ray of light appears."

In my case, it just became darker.

I received a warning letter from San Bernardino County Central Collections on a traffic ticket I received three years ago for driving without a seatbelt. It says I owe $1,231.00 and they've suspended my drivers license and failure to pay may mean additional criminal penalities including fines or jail time.

I called them and explained the problem but they want their money so told me to abandon my mother and go to work to earn them their money. Failure to pay them and they will garnish my wages (what wages), attachment of assets (no assets here in my name except a car than doesn't run) or they will intercept my tax return.

Any free legal advice I'll gladly accept.

Beam me up Scotty....anyplace but here.

$1,231.00 How is the fine that much?

Community service work (taking care of an invalid). I'm serious.

The original fine, I think, was $150 when I received the ticket three years ago. The rest is fines, the most recent one this year is $300 making the amount owed $1,231.

One minor correction from my earlier post. It may be just semantics but, Central Collections didn't use the word "suspended" referring to my Driver's License. Their exact wording was: "...and a DMV hold has been placed on your driver's license." Probably means the same thing.

What I Need: Problem with solution.

A rich relative My relatives are all deceased or impoverished.

A rich wife I may be wrong but I doubt that a toothless. 61 year

old man with no job, assets, checking or savings

account is in great demand right now

Win the Lotto Given the 10 million + to one odds of winning, I never

play it.

One bit of unrelated news. I told friends in chat that the nearest fire was 60+ miles from me. Apparently I have been avoiding watching the local news. There are fires in our high mountains (20+ miles from me) threatening Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead and Grass Valley. Two nights ago the skies were clear due to high winds. Tonight I can't see any stars from the high rising smoke.

The way you take care of the ticket is by settling with them for the original amount. It works for other types of collections, and it can work here. You tell them you have no job, no money, and no way to get any. Then you say that if they want any part of it, you can afford to give them the original amount (you don't worry about whether you have the original amount or not). If they won't accept that, you tell them, they'll get nothing and spend pointless time going after non-existent wages and taxes.

plix (imported) wrote: Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:00 pm The way you take care of the ticket is by settling with them for the original amount. It works for other types of collections, and it can work here. You tell them you have no job, no money, and no way to get any. Then you say that if they want any part of it, you can afford to give them the original amount (you don't worry about whether you have the original amount or not). If they won't accept that, you tell them, they'll get nothing and spend pointless time going after non-existent wages and taxes.

Interesting suggestion.

Wolfe I know you live by thoes fires so do keep your beard wet we dont need a wolfe without a beard.

If this is a criminal offence and since (I presume) you haven't taken a guilty plea, you are entitled to demand a trial (with a jury if you wish) or a hearing before a magistrate or hearing examiner. You stand a better chance of dismissal or reduction before an examiner if you have that choice. At any rate, unless California is even stranger than I think, you do not have to accept the decision from the collections office unless you admit guilt. Telling you to abandon your mother and go to work is typical of the sort of ploy used to collect bills by private collection agencies. Implied threats and intimidation are their only job skills. Good luck whatever you decide to do. The threat of your story going to the news media (what a public relations nightmare!) may help. If that doesn't work find the lowest form of T.V. tabloid local news and give them the story. --FLO--

I called Central Collections as Plix advised in an attempt to get the amount of the original citations and found out there were two citations: One three years ago for $56 for driving without a seatbelt and one 45 days ago (a fixit ticket) as my registration and car insurance had both expired. On October 1 of this year I shelled out my registration fees and purchased the bare minimal car insurance.

The day my caught fire, I was on my way down to AAA to picked up a red sticker showing I had had payed the registration fees and had insurance. The paperwork, my glasses (since replaced) and my car were swallowed in flames.

I asked Central Collections if I could just pay the original $56 to which their polite response was a laugh and a definite no. They said the fees would soon be $1,531.00. I explained to them I have no income, no checking or savings accounts and no assets and their only response was, "when can we expect payment in full."

To be truthful, I own an old 1989 Plymouth in my driveway but have avoided driving it for three years now due it needing 4 tires, a battery, an alternator, repairs needed to get it to pass smog requirements, and accompanying smog fees. I had payed $2,500 for it a few years before and most of the time it had no major problems.

In case I failed to mention it before, the nursinghome mom was in over a year ago is also suing me for $2,400 in back charges. Apparently mom overstayed her 100% period where medicare and her Blue Shield payed everything. For that one I have a court date on November 19th or 20th. I hope Plix is correct about California having no "debtors prison" anymore.

If there is a tighter position to be in between a rock and a hard place, I think I found it.

I'm on my way downtown now to the County to turn in mom's application for Medi-Cal and to pick up a Food Stamps application for me.

This reminds me of a sympathy card an old girlfriend from 1968 had sent me which said,"life often looks cloudy or dark....before it turns completely black."

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:22 am I called Central Collections as Plix advised in an attempt to get the amount of the original citations and found out there were two citations: One three years ago for $56 for driving without a seatbelt and one 45 days ago (a fixit ticket) as my registration and car insurance had both expired. On October 1 of this year I shelled out my registration fees and purchased the bare minimal car insurance.

The day my caught fire, I was on my way down to AAA to picked up a red sticker showing I had had payed the registration fees and had insurance. The paperwork, my glasses (since replaced) and my car were swallowed in flames.

I asked Central Collections if I could just pay the original $56 to which their polite response was a laugh and a definite no. They said the fees would soon be $1,531.00. I explained to them I have no income, no checking or savings accounts and no assets and their only response was, "when can we expect payment in full."

To be truthful, I own an old 1989 Plymouth in my driveway but have avoided driving it for three years now due it needing 4 tires, a battery, an alternator, repairs needed to get it to pass smog requirements, and accompanying smog fees. I had payed $2,500 for it a few years before and most of the time it had no major problems.

In case I failed to mention it before, the nursinghome mom was in over a year ago is also suing me for $2,400 in back charges. Apparently mom overstayed her 100% period where medicare and her Blue Shield payed everything. For that one I have a court date on November 19th or 20th. I hope Plix is correct about California having no "debtors prison" anymore.

If there is a tighter position to be in between a rock and a hard place, I think I found it.

I'm on my way downtown now to the County to turn in mom's application for Medi-Cal and to pick up a Food Stamps application for me.

This reminds me of a sympathy card an old girlfriend from 1968 had sent me which said,"life often looks cloudy or dark....before it turns completely black."

So far, you are worse off than I am, but I am racing to catch up with you. :-\ Please take care of yourself. I know how depresssing being poor is and how desperate we can feel. I worry about you.

I was planning on bringing mom home on or about November 1st though, as I don't have a car, I may have to wheel her the three blocks by wheel chair unless I can locate a public conveyence that would drive her the three blocks.

When I went to see her today she was more alert than usual but much unaware to her surroundings and still babbling in garbleese. Two nurses cornered me in the hall telling me that Dr. Eskander, the owner of the nursing home, is in insisting in putting in that feeding tube into her stomach. I again voiced my opposition to that procedure.

I was then informed that I may be her son but, since I don't have "durable power of attorney," they can insert that tube into her without my consent. When I signed her into that nursing home I did it with two written preconditions, which hopefully aren't in conflict. I wanted all measures taken to revive her, if necessary, and I DID NOT want that feeding tube.

I'm glad mom has a court-appointed attorney. I now think they should have appointed one for me too.

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:10 am I was planning on bringing mom home on or about November 1st though, as I don't have a car, I may have to wheel her the three blocks by wheel chair unless I can locate a public conveyence that would drive her the three blocks.

When I went to see her today she was more alert than usual but much unaware to her surroundings and still babbling in garbleese. Two nurses cornered me in the hall telling me that Dr. Eskander, the owner of the nursing home, is in insisting in putting in that feeding tube into her stomach. I again voiced my opposition to that procedure.

I was then informed that I may be her son but, since I don't have "durable power of attorney," they can insert that tube into her without my consent. When I signed her into that nursing home I did it with two written preconditions, which hopefully aren't in conflict. I wanted all measures taken to revive her, if necessary, and I DID NOT want that feeding tube.

I'm glad mom has a court-appointed attorney. I now think they should have appointed one for me too.

So ask the son of a bitch who's gonna pay for it all, or is he donating all his services?

kristoff wrote: Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:10 pm So ask the son of a bitch who's gonna pay for it all, or is he donating all his services?

Would the tube then require the nursing home to keep your mother?

Blaise (imported) wrote: Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:02 pm Would the tube then require the nursing home to keep your mother?

The Legacy Nursing Home would prefer to keep mom for another month or two after the tube would be inserted. However, since her Medicare and Blue Shield will stop paying 100% on November 9th, and mom and I exist on $37 a day, it ain't going to happen.

UNLESS, they do math like the U.S. government does and we still have money leftover after paying them their copay of $110 a day. Somehow I don't see that happening.

Besides, mom is looking weaker and seems to be getting older staying there.

Strange, I thought I'd actually enjoy the time off, the extra sleep, the peace and quiet. I have never been more lonley and depressed in my life. I don't doubt the lack of transportation contributes to it but................

It's 1:43am and this old man needs sleep.

Fifteen minutes ago a nurse from the nursing home called me and said, "considering the legal ramifications and the sole family member's objections, we have decided against the stomach tube for your mother and instead will install a tube down her nose to feed her extra nutrition."

It seems mom's viens are failing to support the IV's anymore. The nurse did say I could bring her home, without the nose tube, on November 1st.

She even offered to provide transportation so I don't have to wheel mom the three blocks home with her breathing the lingering smoke from our mountain fires in the air:)

Mom's bank statement arrived today and both her retirement and Social Security increased so we're richer than I thought. We can now live on $38.50 per day instead of a measely $37.00.

As the old lady who peed in the ocean said, "every little bit helps."

I'm walking up to the nursing home now to ask when I can bring mom home. I'll let you know what transpires when I return.

The physician in charge of the nursing refused to allow my mother to go home and says he plans to keep her there past November 9 even though I've already explained to the business office that we can't afford the huge copay involved.

The nurse said she would call Dr. Eskander again reminding him of my insisdtance that mom be allowed to come home within a few days at the longest.

The staff did say I if I waited till Saturday or Monday, and was still refused permission, I could take her out AMA - Against Medical Advice.

I'm open to opinions, advice or support

I visited the nursing home today and found they have decided against providing mom with transportation home. I informed them that on Monday, November 5, I would be there with her wheelchair, bathrobe and slippers to wheel her home the 3.5 blocks back to our house and that I was taking her out Against Medical Advice.

I don't know if I'm taking the correct action but I'm making the best decision that I know. If mom only has days, weeks, months or even a year or so to live, she has the right to live it in her own home surrounded by her stuff, her cat and dog and her son

I pray I've made the right decision.

I took a bus up to a department store today and purchased a Dirt Devil vacumn cleaner to make the rooms look more presentable, and lugged it home, as my vacumn that was generously given to me by friends in San Deigo is hopelessly clogged and I can't seem to unclog it to get suction.