New law helps halt financial exploitation of vulnerable adults

Chalk another one up for people doing the right thing. State Rep. Jim Moeller’s continuing work to quash financial exploitation and other wrongful, nefarious treatment of elderly and vulnerable citizens passed legislative muster earlier this year. The 2009 measure prevents an abusive person from inheriting anything from a deceased person who was ever the victim of financial exploitation by the abusive person. It goes into effect July 26.

Vancouver attorneys Jim Senescu and Jessica Dimitrov and other members of the Clark County Vulnerable Adult Task Force in recent years have worked with Moeller to craft the best possible standards to protect vulnerable adults. Washougal police detective Allen Cook also testified for the legislation in committee hearings. Moeller emphasized that “concerned citizens invested a lot of time and effort into developing this vital new policy. This new state law is a very important tool to protect and support our most vulnerable citizens.

“So many folks save their entire lives so they can spend their golden years in a safe and comfortable retirement,” Moeller continued. “Naturally, most all retired folks take a lot of pride in making their own decisions, just like anyone else. At some point, though, they generally have no choice but to put their lives and financial resources into someone else’s hands. As we age, we become more dependent upon people close to us for taking care of our basic necessities. Yet sometimes some of the very people closest to us, sometimes even our own family members, take illegal advantage of the situation.”

The Vancouver Democrat has sponsored several measures in recent years to help protect the life, limb and property of vulnerable adults. These standards must always meet the goals both of protecting vulnerable citizens and of surviving any potential legal challenges. The idea behind this year’s legislation is to establish a mechanism to make sure that an abusive person doesn’t inherit anything from the vulnerable adult who was victimized by the abusive person.”