On April 4, Catholic Charities hosted our Legacy Circle members, supporters, and friends at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club for this year’s annual Legacy Circle luncheon.

The luncheon included a panel comprised of three financial elder abuse litigation experts:

• Catholic Charities Board Member Phil Kearney, former San Francisco Asst. DA, United Nations War Crimes Prosecutor and current shareholder with Murphy, Pearson, Bradley and Feeney
• Matthew Davis, former San Francisco Attorney, shareholder with San Francisco law firm Walkup Melodia
• Michael Hackard, 50-year civil litigator in both civil and probate courts and author of The Wolf at the Door and The Inheritance Heists.

Financial elder abuse can involve litigation in probate, civil and criminal courts. The panelists provided firsthand accounts of the “hidden peril” seniors in our communities and home face today. Every guest received one of two of Michal Hackard’s books, The Wolf at the Door and The Inheritance Heists.

We were fortunate to have these experts enlighten the audience with some strategies for preservation and warning signs. The most common financial elder abuse case often includes relatives, new romances, interlopers, and disinherited heirs.

The discussion was riveting as we listened to accounts of a current $18 million case that the attorneys are handling in probate, civil and criminal court! Catholic Charities director Rosa Mendez closed out the discussion by providing examples of early financial elder abuse warning signs that Catholic Charities provides for families, caregivers and clients at our Adult Aging Services and OMI Senior Center. In addition, our Memory Café, which is held once a month, offers resources and respite for families and caregivers. In addition to providing resources, our staff adds an extra layer of protection to watch out for early warning signs of financial elder abuse.

Legacy Circle luncheons are held once a year for those who list Catholic Charities in their Estate Planning. If you would like further information about planned giving and Legacy Circle, contact development@CatholicCharitiesSF.org