Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Fellow Advocates,

Top of the afternoon to you and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today I write to share BIG NEWS!

On January 1, 2020, I launched my own law firm after devoting fifteen years to civilly prosecuting civil rights and elder abuse claims at the Scott Law Firm to now focus exclusively on pursuing justice and protection for children, incapacitated elders, and individuals with special needs including developmental disabilities. We combine public-policy principles, extensive litigation experience, and the tools available in federal law as well as California's Probate and Welfare & Institutions Codes including the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act to craft specialized solutions for the most vulnerable among us. In addition, we also handle contested administrations of conservatorships, estates, and trusts.

I anticipated sending this announcement to you exactly two years ago, today. But, the disruption of COVID-19 required an improvised approach to our first years in business. Despite those challenges, we have many “wins” of which I am proud; below are just a few.

• After years of litigation, and at the eve of trial, co-counsel and I negotiated a $1.5 million-dollar settlement for an elder based on novel facts establishing financial elder abuse in a case involving a promise to make a testamentary gift.

• We were honored to join our colleagues as amicus counsel in the California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal to represent two stellar non-profits which resulted in one of a handful of published decisions defining facts which establish elder financial abuse by an insurance company. Williams v. National Western Life Ins. Co. (Mar. 4, 2022, No. C090436) ___Cal.App.5th___ [2022 Cal. App. LEXIS 183, at *1].)

• After advocating in the federal District Court, Ninth Circuit, and United States Supreme Court, co-counsel and I procured another court order which confirms that a five-year old foster child enjoys personal rights to safety and adequate care, and to be free from danger, as guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

Please update me in your contacts and do not hesitate to reach out to us should you, your clients, or your colleagues seek counsel to: (1) consider litigation to remedy civil rights violations against adults or children with special needs; (2) evaluate or pursue an elder or dependent adult financial abuse claim; or, (3) evaluate the benefits of a conservatorship to protect a loved one from further harm.

We look forward to continuing to work with you to champion the rights of children, elders, and people with disabilities.

I sincerely wish you and yours good health and spirits.

Kind regards,
Liza