TUPELO – State Rep. Brian Aldridge of Tupelo takes his appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court in the wake of a hefty judgment in his aunt’s power-of-attorney lawsuit.
His attorney, T.K. Moffett of Tupelo, asks the state’s highest court to consider overturning $218,355 sanctions against Aldridge and $140,100 against his Tupelo charity, Touched By An Angel Ministries Inc.
July 8, Chancellor Michael Malski refused to reconsider his May 23, 2012, order against the two defendants in Florence Aldridge’s lawsuit.
Malski also ordered Brian Aldridge’s parents, Louis and Janice Aldridge, to repay her $522,000 the judge termed as “plundered” from her estate while she was ill and Louis held her power of attorney.
The state supreme court docket shows receipt of the case record and Malski’s court order.
Florence Aldridge’s attorneys, Frank and Rhett Russell of Tupelo, also entered their official appearance on her behalf on Monday.
Moffett insisted to Malski that Brian Aldridge should not be held personally responsible for acts committed by his father and that the charity should not be in jeopardy for funds it received illegally from Louis Aldridge.
Brian Aldridge is chief executive officer of TBAAM Inc., which operates a camp ministry for disabled youths and adults. His father was removed as the charity’s chief financial officer.
Before Malski, Moffett insisted the court erred in finding the charity liable because it has “no duty to investigate the source of contributions” and that no proof exists of Brian Aldridge’s personal involvement in his aunt’s losses.
Attribution:
Rep. Aldridge appeals to state Supreme Court
Patsy R. Brumfield
August 22, 2012
NEMS Daily Journal
http://djournal.com/view/full_story/19889981/article-Rep–Aldridge-appeals–to-state-Supreme-Court?instance=home_news_2nd_left
Additional coverage:
Mississippi lawmaker Brian Aldridge appeals order he pay for estate losses
The Associated Press
August 23, 2012
ClarionLedger.com
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20120823/NEWS/120823009/Tupelo-lawmaker-appeals-order-he-pay-estate-losses
TUPELO — State Rep. Brian Aldridge has asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to throw out a ruling that he pay more than $200,000 to his aunt, whose estate was plundered by his father.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Aldridge filed an appeal after a Lee County judge denied his motion for a new trial.
In May, Chancellor Michael Malski ordered Aldridge to pay Florence Aldridge $218,355. Malski said even though Aldridge was not personally liable for the more than $522,000 she lost as a result of actions by his father, Louis Aldridge, he was responsible for what happened through their charity which Louis Aldridge funneled some of her money.
Brian Aldridge, a Republican from Tupelo, is chief executive officer of Touched By An Angel Ministries, Inc., which operates a camp for disabled children and adults near Tupelo. Louis Aldridge was once the charity’s chief financial officer.
Brian Aldridge contends he should not be held personally responsible for acts committed by his father and that the charity should not be in jeopardy for funds it received illegally from Louis Aldridge.
Aldridge’s attorney also contends the judge erred in finding the charity liable because it has “no duty to investigate the source of contributions” and that no proof exists of Brian Aldridge’s personal involvement in his aunt’s losses.
Estate of Denial® provides news, analysis and commentary on abusive practices occurring in probate courts and via probate instruments (wills, trusts, guardianships, powers of attorney). We provide original perspective to educate the public regarding this growing threat to both individual freedoms and property rights.