Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times’ “Guardians for Profit” series exposed a broken conservatorship system where professional guardians systematically exploited older adults. The series, for which the team of Robin Fields, Evelyn Larrubia, and Jack Leonard won the 2005 Ursula and Gilbert Farfel Prize for Excellence in Investigative Reporting, is a landmark in journalism. Cited in legal journals, legislative analyses, and testimony, its findings served as a key moment in exposing systemic flaws in California’s guardianship system. The reporting team chronicled their efforts and the steep learning curve they faced in “Aging Citizens: Steep learning curve for series of stories on guardianship care for state’s elderly” in the May/June 2006 issue of The IRE Journal:

We found that hundreds of seniors lost their independence to professional conservators (California’s term for guardians for adults) without their consent at court hearings that lasted minutes. Once under conservatorship, seniors and their relatives found it difficult — and expensive — to fight their way out…

Some professional guardians — who are subject to less oversight than hairdressers or guide-dog trainers — ignored the needs of the vulnerable adults in their care. Some isolated ailing seniors from their closest relatives. Some stole money or property. Many ran up fees, which were typically rubber-stamped by the overworked probate courts charged with overseeing the guardians’ work…

Courts in Los Angeles had become so backlogged that they failed to check on the well-being of half of the seniors under conservatorship, a requirement under state law. Not surprisingly, courts missed a multitude of problems, including outright theft…

… By the time we finished, we had reviewed more than 2,400 cases, including every one handled by professional conservators in five Southern California counties between 1997 and 2003. We had a steep learning curve. None of us knew anything about the arcane world of for-profit guardians when we began the project…

Our research helped us learn how to navigate conservatorship case files, which were far different from the criminal and civil cases we were used to reporting on. It also helped us compile a long list of examples showing conservators’ wrongdoing and incompetence, as well as gaffes by courts.

The investigation revealed how some guardians charged exorbitant fees, mismanaged assets, and even looted clients’ life savings. It also brought to light how vulnerable adults were placed under conservatorship without their informed consent, losing all control over their finances and personal lives. The Times’ reporting revealed that these abuses were enabled by a deep-seated lack of judicial oversight and accountability.

Here is a chronological list and synopsis of the articles.

Part 1 —

When a Family Matter Turns Into a Business; Conservators are supposed to protect the elderly and infirm. But some neglect their clients, isolate them — even plunder their assets by Robin Fields, Evelyn Larrubia and Jack Leonard (November 13, 2005; A1);

• This was the main front-page article of the series. It provided a broad overview of the investigation’s findings, highlighting how the guardianship system had been transformed from a familial responsibility into a for-profit industry. It featured powerful case studies, like that of Helen Jones, to illustrate how professional conservators could isolate and exploit older adults for financial gain. The article established the core problem of the series: a lack of oversight allowing conservators to plunder the assets of vulnerable adults with little accountability.

‘Ruling Over Someone’ Has Paid Off Handsomely by Evelyn Larrubia, Robin Fields and Jack Leonard (November 13, 2005; 47)

• This companion article detailed the lucrative financial aspects of the conservatorship business, using data and figures to expose how professional conservators profited from high fees and earnings, often at the expense of their clients’ life savings.

Part 2 —

Judges’ Inaction, Inattention Leave Many Seniors at Risk; Probate courts are supposed to watch conservators’ conduct and discipline those who abuse their authority. They’ve failed dismally in this vital role. By Jack Leonard, Robin Fields, and Evelyn Larrubia (November 14, 2005; 1); Justice Sleeps While Seniors Suffer by Robin Fields, Evelyn Larrubia and Jack Leonard (November 14, 2005)

• This primary article exposed the systemic lack of oversight by California courts. It revealed that overwhelmed judges routinely approved conservatorship petitions and fee requests without proper review, allowing professional conservators to exploit their clients with little accountability. The report detailed specific cases where judicial inaction enabled years of abuse.

In O.C., a Lower Fee for that Milk Run by Jack Leonard, Evelyn Larrubia, and Robin Fields (November 14, 2005; 16; sidebar)

• A concrete, localized example of the abuses highlighted in the main article was provided. This sidebar revealed how a public administrator in Orange County improperly charged for minor errands, demonstrating that financial exploitation wasn’t isolated to Los Angeles but was a widespread problem enabled by judicial inattention.

Part 3 —

Missing Money, Unpaid Bills and Forgotten Clients; Anne L. Chavis, a churchgoing nurse, had sweeping power over wards’ lives. It took years for the VA and others to rein her in. By Evelyn Larrubia, Jack Leonard, and Robin Fields (November 15, 2005; A1)

• Published between the main parts of the series, an in-depth case study focused on two professional conservators. It detailed how they mismanaged the finances of hundreds of clients, leading to unpaid bills, neglect, and lost money, highlighting the consequences of systemic failures on individual victims.

Part 4 —

For Most Vulnerable, a Promise Abandoned; L.A.’s public guardian, stripped of county funding for over a decade, turns away many in need. By Robin Fields, Evelyn Larrubia, and Jack Leonard (November 16, 2005; A1; online title “L.A.’s Public Guardian — A Canceled Promise”).

• The Los Angeles County Public Guardian’s office, intended as a safety net, was exposed as a source of neglect and mismanagement. The report detailed how being overwhelmed and under-resourced led to poor living conditions and inadequate care, showing a system meant to be a safeguard had become part of the problem.

Follow-up articles

The “Guardians for Profit” series prompted a high-level response from California’s government. State lawmakers introduced bills to regulate professional conservators and increase oversight. One key proposal aimed to strip probate judges of their power to oversee conservators, transferring that authority to an independent state agency. California’s chief justice also created a judicial task force to propose reforms. These efforts culminated in the passage of the Omnibus Conservatorship and Guardianship Reform Act of 2006, which mandated state licensing, increased judicial oversight, and created a statewide conservator registry. Follow-up articles also provided updates on individuals from the series, with the final poignant piece announcing the death of Helen Jones, a key figure whose fight became a symbol for protecting the elderly from exploitation.

Deserving of Care by the Editorial Board. (November 17, 2005; B10)

• This post-series editorial argues that the conservatorship system is deeply flawed and enables the abuse of the elderly and ill. It calls for fundamental changes, including the transfer of oversight from the courts to an independent state agency, the implementation of a professional licensing process for conservators, and a commitment of more resources to the probate courts. The core message is that the system’s failures are not incidental but are a direct result of its design and a lack of accountability.

Judge Orders Review of Vet’s Contested Will; The action comes after The Times’ investigation into misconduct by professional conservators. By Evelyn Larrubia, Jack Leonard and Robin Fields (November 16, 2005; 22)

• A sidebar provided a concrete example of how legal battles over a World War II veteran’s contested will could entangle a conservatee’s assets. While the main article exposed systemic failures, this piece illustrated the complex issues that can arise and harm vulnerable individuals.

April Trial Set for Woman Seeking to End Conservatorship; Helen Jones, 87, criticizes delays, saying she inadvertently ceded control of her finances. By Evelyn Larrubia (December 3, 2005; B1)

• An older woman fought to end her conservatorship after a Los Angeles County judge ordered an independent review of her case. The story provided an update on the legal proceedings, noting that a trial was set for the following April to determine if she was competent. This story highlighted the slow, arduous process of seeking justice within the conservatorship system exposed by the series.

Licensing of Conservators Urged at Hearing; Lawmakers hear criticism, from elder law experts and senior care advocates, of abuses in the state’s system to protect the elderly. By Jack Leonard (December 8, 2005; B1)

• California lawmakers held a hearing to address the series’ findings. Prompted by the investigation, legislators and advocates urged for the mandatory licensing and oversight of conservators. A Los Angeles County judge testified on the need for systemic reform, highlighting the exploitation and neglect exposed by the series.

Plan for Guardians Outlined; Calling state’s system ‘broken,’ assemblyman says he will introduce a bill that would require training and licensure for conservators. By Jack Leonard, Evelyn Larrubia, and Robin Fields (December 13, 2005; B1)

• In direct response to the abuses exposed by the investigative series, a legislative proposal aimed at reforming California’s conservatorship system was detailed. The plan, put forth by state lawmakers, included state licensing and regulation of professional conservators, increased court oversight, and greater accountability for conservators, including more rigorous accounting of their clients’ assets. In December 2005, Tom Clark, counsel to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, prepared a background paper titled “Better Protection for Our Most Vulnerable Adults: Is it Time to Reform the Conservatorship Process?”. The paper opened with a detailed reference to the “Guardians for Profit” series.

State Could Turn Elsewhere for Conservatorship Remedies; Experts say regulatory efforts in Arizona, Texas and Canada are possible models for reform. By Robin Fields, Jack Leonard and Evelyn Larrubia (December 27, 2005; B1)

• State lawmakers and legal experts considered a radical new approach to reform the conservatorship system. A proposal was outlined to strip probate judges of their power to license and regulate conservators, transferring that authority to an independent state agency. This idea, a direct response to the series’ finding that judges had failed to adequately oversee the system, highlighted a major systemic change to address the flaws exposed by the investigation.

Task Force to Analyze Guardian System; California’s chief justice appoints the panel. It will assess how courts monitor conservators and recommend ways to address abuses. By Jack Leonard and Robin Fields (January 14, 2006; B1)

• In response to the Los Angeles Times’ investigation, California’s chief justice created an 11-member judicial task force to analyze and propose reforms to the state’s conservatorship system. The task force was assigned to examine judicial oversight, the financial accountability of guardians, and the legal rights of individuals under conservatorship, demonstrating the significant impact of the series.

Task Force Urges Reform of State’s Guardian System; Meeting for the first time since its creation last month, the panel backs key parts of a bill under consideration by the Senate. By Jack Leonard (February 4, 2006; B1)

• In response to the Los Angeles Times investigation, a judicial task force appointed by the state’s chief justice urged a comprehensive overhaul of the system. The task force’s report recommended mandatory training for private conservators, a statewide database to track guardians, and increased judicial oversight with clear standards for conservatorship proceedings.

Widow Seeks New Guardian; Helen Jones, who fought an unwanted conservator’s control and spending, asks the court to appoint her step-grandson to the job. By Evelyn Larrubia (March 22, 2006)

• After a prolonged struggle, Helen Jones, a central figure in the original “Guardians for Profit” series, finally petitioned the court to end her unwanted conservatorship. Her case, which highlighted a conservator seizing control of her life and finances, was heard again in probate court, revealing the ongoing legal hurdles faced by those challenging the system.

This Widow Wins a Needed Break; After a 2-year struggle, a Yucaipa woman is granted removal of a conservator who took control of her finances without her knowledge by Evelyn Larrubia (March 31, 2006; B1)

• A woman in Yucaipa, California, successfully ended a two-year legal battle to terminate a conservatorship over her life and finances. The article detailed how a conservator, appointed after a court hearing the woman was unaware of, had taken control of her assets. The judge’s decision to end the conservatorship provided a rare positive example of the system being successfully challenged.

Conservator Reform Faces a Tough Road; The Judicial Council and elder rights groups like the proposals before the Legislature, but there is no money set aside to implement them. By Jack Leonard and Robin Fields (June 25, 2006; A1)

• Despite initial momentum from the “Guardians for Profit” series, a proposed bill to reform California’s conservatorship system faced significant opposition. The article revealed that lobbying efforts by professional conservator groups were weakening the legislation, threatening its effectiveness.

Guardianships Still Abused, Survey Finds; Little progress has been made toward better court oversight, a national report says. By Robin Fields (July 6, 2006; A1)

• A national survey by the American Bar Association and AARP confirmed that the abuses exposed by the Los Angeles Times’ investigative series were a nationwide problem. The survey found that conservatorships were still largely unsupervised, with widespread financial abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults across the United States.

Sweeping Changes in Elder Care Pass by Jack Leonard and Robin Fields (August 31, 2006; A1)

• A package of bills was announced, enacting sweeping reforms to California’s conservatorship system. The new laws, passed almost unanimously, mandated state licensing for professional conservators, increased judicial oversight, and required greater accountability from guardians. They also created a statewide registry and required more frequent court reviews, representing a major step toward protecting vulnerable individuals.

Gov. Signs Conservator Reform Bills; The laws, a reaction to system abuses, require licensing and more oversight of those who control money of adults under court order. By Jack Leonard and Robin Fields (September 28, 2006; B1)

• California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Omnibus Conservatorship and Guardianship Reform Act of 2006 into law. The new legislation, the culmination of a year-long effort to fix problems exposed by the investigation, established a new system of oversight, including a statewide registry for professional conservators and mandatory training, while also providing more legal protections for conservatees.

Guardianship abuses draw attention in Senate by Robin Fields (December 13, 2007; B1)

• A U.S. Senate hearing focused on the need for nationwide conservatorship reform. Lawmakers heard from victims and experts, confirming that financial exploitation and neglect by professional guardians were significant national issues. Both parties expressed commitment to federal legislation to improve oversight and protect vulnerable Americans.

Woman in California conservator case that led to legal reform dies; Helen Jones’ life and savings were taken over through a program that was open to abuse. Her plight helped expose a flawed system. By Evelyn Larrubia (January 5, 2007; B1)

• The article reported the death of Helen Jones, a woman whose conservatorship battle was a central case study in the “Guardians for Profit” series. Her struggle against a professional conservator who took over her life and finances became a powerful example of the abuses that led to legal reforms, and she was honored as a symbol for protecting older adults from exploitation.

Reforms may face funding hurdle by Jack Leonard (June 17, 2008; B1)

• Reforms to the conservatorship system, passed in 2006, were at risk due to a lack of state funding. Without the necessary financial resources, the new laws — which included a statewide registry and increased court oversight — could not be effectively enforced, potentially leading to a return to the abuses exposed by the series.

The legal community’s perspective

In a 2007 article, Crisis in Conservatorships, in the California Trusts and Estates Quarterly (vol. 12, no. 4, 2 Jan. 2007), authors Ed Corey, Meg Lodise, and Peter Stern chronicle legislative improvements to conservatorship laws over the previous decade. They specifically critique the L.A. Times “Guardians for Profit” series and the four bills that made up the Omnibus Conservatorship and Guardianship Reform Act of 2006.

The L.A. Times series, however, reveals a deeper issue: the legal system itself is integral to the problem. While Corey et al. may point to solutions like more funding and oversight, the investigation shows the crisis stems from the system’s fundamental design. The law is not upheld; it is instead manipulated to conceal systemic failures and is wielded as a weapon and a shield by those who exploit the system.

The series found that a lack of judicial oversight allows lawyers, for-profit conservators, and other bad actors to financially exploit vulnerable individuals. They do this by depleting their assets through excessive fees, fraudulent property sales, and outright theft, violating state and federal laws as well as the constitutional rights of the people they were meant to protect.

Legacy

The legacy of the L.A. Times series “Guardians for Profit” remains a benchmark for investigative reporting, yet it is important to recognize the abuse and exploitation it exposed are still a national epidemic. While the series prompted some legislative changes, the systemic flaws that allow for-profit guardians to exploit vulnerable individuals persist. The issues are far from resolved, as the systemic problems of judicial oversight, the isolation of wards from their families, and outright exploitation persist. The series set a crucial precedent for journalism’s power to drive reform. The ongoing prevalence of this abuse highlights the state’s complicity in a crisis where adult guardianship often serves as a state-sanctioned vehicle for white-collar crime, even racketeering.

The court’s betrayal of public trust is clear evidence that reform cannot happen from within the system. The most promising and, to this day, elusive recommendation from the post-series editorial was the call for an independent oversight body: “The state Department of Consumer Affairs, which oversees the licensing of many other professions, should add conservators to its purview. A public disciplinary process for conservators should also be set up, separate from the courts.” (November 17, 2005)

Now, Robin Fields (LinkedIn) is a Senior Editor at ProPublica covering health, including the drug industry, insurance denials and reproductive care; Evelyn Larrubia (LinkedIn) is the Senior Editor for Technology and Business Investigations at The Washington Post; and Jack Leonard (LinkedIn) is a Senior Editor at ProPublica.