Continued heartbreak for families with drained special needs trusts
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Continued heartbreak for families across the country. Money meant to take care of the most vulnerable disappeared from their trusts at the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, located in St. Petersburg.
If you are a family whose trust has been drained: be cautious, don’t give anyone sensitive information over the phone, no matter how legitimate it may sound.
“I’m 24, I’m Disabled,” said Jordan Lawrence who lives in North Carolina. “I’m the youngest of five siblings.”
“At the age of 11, he had an asthma attack,” said Tracey Lawrence, Jordan’s mom. “He asked his teacher could he take a break to go to his locker to go get his inhaler she told him no.”
Lawrence said on that fateful day in 2011, her son was taken from school to the hospital where he went into cardiac arrest and into a coma for three weeks.
“Even though it was a while ago the pain still hurts, it’s a memory that’s embedded in my mind,” she said. “He was looking around, trying to figure out what was going on what it happened, but throughout the whole time, realizing that his life had changed.”
Jordan had suffered brain damage, delayed speech and a movement disorder. His family filed a lawsuit and secured a settlement and monthly annuity payments for Jordan. That money was put into a trust at the center at the end of 2013. Two months ago, their world shattered again. Jordan and his family learned his trust is missing $30,000.
“I feel like that saying the money is the root of all evil, and this statement is true,” said Lawrence.
Lawrence received this notice from the Center days after it filed for bankruptcy in February. According to the bankruptcy filing, between 2009 and 2020, the center’s founder, Leo Govoni, got the center to loan $100 million dollars to his company, Boston Finance Group. The center claims it’s board didn’t find out about the alleged loan until 2022, but right after the center filed for bankruptcy, that same board resigned. The Lawrence family, like the hundreds of others with drained trusts feel they’ve been left in the dark.
“I really feel like there needs to be different laws put in place to protect the families,” she said.
8 On Your Side keeps hearing from families like the Lawrences and we will keep telling their stories. There is movement in this case and we know there is now something called an unsecured creditors committee to help families navigate all the things that come next. We will have more on that committee and what it means for families like the Lawrences Fridayon News Channel 8 at 6.
This is a case of high visibility. We’ve learned there are people calling these victims trying to get their personal, sensitive information. Don’t fall for it. Notices are being sent out to warn families.
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