Probate Law News

Three Senior Citizens Sentenced in Financial Scam Targeting Elderly

Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced today the sentencing of three senior citizens who preyed on the elderly by selling them financial products that were unregistered and unqualified for sale in California. All three pleaded "No Contest" following an investigation by the California Department of Insurance's (CDI), Investigation Division, Valencia Regional Office landed them in court.

"It seems that fraud knows no age limit," said Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. "But it is particularly disturbing when senior citizens seek to take advantage of other, more vulnerable elderly citizens."

On January 18, 2007, Lawrence John Deovlet also known as Lawrence John Hartunian, 64, of Westlake Village pleaded "No Contest" to one count of Corporations Code 25210, Unlicensed Broker-Dealer. Deovlet was ordered to pay $500,000.00 in restitution to eleven victims, commit no further violations of the Corporations Code, serve one year unsupervised probation, pay a $200 restitution fine and a $20 court fee. Read more at insurance.ca.gov.

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	Did You Know?
	Probate Is Handled In Court Probate cases normally occur in state and county court where the deceased permanently lived at the time of his or her death. In different states such courts may go by different names. Some are simply called the Probate Court. In New Yorkthey are called the Surrogates Court and in California they are called the Superior Court, Probate Division. The probate court will normally handle all the personal property the deceased owned, plus all the real estate the deceased owned located in that same state.