Jennifer Hulme - on Research, Writing, and Consulting Services
Since
June 2022, Tom Coleman’s involvement with Missouri’s Alternatives to
Guardianship Project has been nothing short of transformative. As
the founder of the Spectrum Institute in California, Tom has
generously devoted his time and expertise to our project. His
guidance has been a beacon for me as the project director and has
profoundly impacted the broader field. His effective engagement with
a diverse array of stakeholders has led to a significant advancement
in our collaborative efforts to improve state practices and
processes, particularly concerning guardianship alternatives for
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Tom’s commitment is exemplified by his thorough approach to
research. He has spent countless hours interviewing key figures such
as probate court judges, public administrators, and representatives
from government organizations. This exhaustive research has provided
essential insights, guiding our state’s focus and efforts towards
adhering to our statutes and advocating for the least restrictive
oversight methods. Tom Coleman’s contributions to our project have
been invaluable, setting a high standard in our pursuit of
meaningful and lasting change.
Jennifer Hulme is the founder and director of Hulme Resources Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, including case management, life coaching, transition planning, and benefits planning.
Andie Judson - on Consulting Services
For
over three years, ABC10’s investigation “The
Price of Care” has been digging into California’s
conservatorship system. Tom Coleman’s expertise was a main
contributor and invaluable voice to our reporting. A court-appointed
tool to help those who cannot care for themselves, conservatorships
are legally complex – resulting in a lack of oversight and media
coverage. Coleman’s ability to break down and explain not only the
system’s intricacies, but its incompetence and brokenness, allowed
our reporting to shine a light on how abuse and harm is being
allowed to happen under a multi-billion-dollar state agency. His
advocacy, passion and in-depth knowledge of a system so few
understand, or have even heard of, was crucial in our reporting that
led to the passage of new state laws, changes in policies and a
federal call for oversight.
Andie Judson is an investigative reporter with ABC-!0 television in Sacramento, California.
Rosalind Alexander-Kasparik - on Legal Advocacy
Tom
Coleman saved my heart David Rector’s humanity by pivotally
restoring his voting rights. David suffered an aortic dissection
that left him unable to move purposefully or speak. As was typical
at the time, the judge took David’s right to vote after the
court-appointed guardian ad litem had taken David’s life savings
along with mine. They all then exited leaving us broken and broke.
Civically inclined, David resented the taking of his voting rights
perhaps more than any of the other indignities to which he was
subjected after he fell ill. In 2016, Tom Coleman was pivotal in the
passage of a California law that allowed people with disabilities
whose voting rights had been taken away, to regain them by simply
saying, “I want to vote.” Since David was unable to speak, he placed
his mark on a letter to the judge and marched it to the court
(eye-tracking device powered-up on his wheelchair)—all under the
steady guidance and legal counsel of Tom Coleman and the Spectrum
Institute. I was frightened of the court taking David from me as it
had taken everything else from us. I called 52 attorneys when David
fell ill, and none would represent me. Tom Coleman remains the only
attorney I know of who understands the probate guardianship morass
from every perspective. Most importantly, he knows how to fix
it—compassionately and for the good of the differently-abled and the
people they love.
Rosalind Alexander-Kasparik and David Rector were engaged to be
married when David became seriously ill. They were living
together in San Diego at the time. David and Roz had moved
there from Washington D.C. where David had been a producer for many
years with National Public Radio. After his illness, David and
Roz had a terrible experience with the probate conservatorship
system in California. Their quest to restore David's right to
vote is depicted in a segment of the documentary film
Pursuit of Justice.
Charles Brumlik, JD, PhD - on Legal
Advocacy & Consulting Services
In
the last 25 years of my being an attorney, I have never met a more
effective expert, attorney, or advocate than Tom Coleman.
Tom almost single-handedly saved my son Peter from an
unwanted guardianship which would have resulted in a wholesale loss
of civil rights. Without Tom’s consultation on my son’s case, today
Peter would have no say in determining his own future.
Charles
Brumlik is a chemist and corporate attorney. Peter Brumlik is a
college student starting his career in advocating for high
functioning autistic adults who are automatically assumed to be
second rate citizens. Peter’s goal is to emulate Tom Coleman’s
example.
Diane Dimond -
on Consulting Services
Tom
Coleman is a frontline warrior in the fight to uphold the
constitutional and civil rights of individuals living with
disabilities. As I set out years ago to write a book about the
nationwide problem of exploitative court ordered guardianships and
conservatorships, I was lucky enough to benefit from the wise
consultation and seemingly endless research Tom has conducted on the
subject. He employs a razor sharp focus and a steel trap
recollection of cases—even those from many years past—to inform his
legal opinions and to fight for the vulnerable.
As an
investigative reporter with experience in the crime and justice
space, I was delighted to be introduced to Tom, and in turn to be
graciously introduced by him to others who provided invaluable
contributions to my book. Tom’s voluminous writings, his online
moderation of fascinating events like, “Fee for All: How Judges Are
Raiding Assets of Seniors & Lining the Pockets of Conservatorship
Attorneys,” (Commonwealthclub.org) are a testament to his decades of
honest and meaningful representation for those whose voices are
often dismissed by the legal system.
Diane Dimond is an
investigative journalist and author of four books including,
We’re Here to Help – When Guardianship Goes Wrong.
Susan Sindelar -
on Consulting Services
"Tom
Coleman has a wealth of knowledge on disability rights. This wealth is
also in his strategic advice and procedural suggestions, both of which
helped ensure the appointment of counsel on appeal for the first time
for a probate conservatee. He also helped me lay the best legal
foundation for objections under state and federal disability law, thus
creating a more complete record for appeal. Tom is a leader in the
community who is respected among disability rights organizations, which
allows him to connect with the best resources to help you do your job
effectively at the trial court level and all the way up to the
California Supreme Court, which is where my case eventually landed.
Brook Changala - on Consulting Services
"We
first contacted Tom Coleman to help with a challenging case
involving a proposed conservatee’s rights. Tom was able to guide as
us through the complicated legal issues in the probate
conservatorship system with a refined hand. I do not think my client
would have been able to retain her civil rights without Tom’s
knowledge of the relevant substantive law and his strategic advice
on the case."
Brook Changala is a civil law attorney with experience in probate litigation. Brook has represented Spectrum Institute before the California Supreme Court in important probate and conservatorship litigation. He is the treasurer and a board member of the LGBT Attorneys and Allies Section of the Long Beach Bar Association.
Sandra L. Slaton - on Consulting Services
“I
am a lawyer who has had the privilege and pleasure of being able to
work with Tom Coleman on one of the most challenging probate matters
of my career. He was creative, brilliant, and courageous in his
“out-of-the-box” approach to our strategy in litigating within the
probate court. Tom is relentless in advocating for individuals who
find themselves victims of a court system that, at times, is not
sensitive to the application of due process for all who come before
judges expecting to be treated in a fair and impartial manner. Tom
is not afraid to fight for individuals who are not always able to
fight for themselves. He contributed immensely to our legal team and
to our persistent pursuit of justice. I highly recommend his legal
consulting services."
Sandra Slaton is the founding shareholder of Horne Slaton, PLLC. She was admitted to the bar in Arizona in 1980. Ms. Slaton began her law career as an assistant federal public defender and then moved into private practice where she has remained for over three decades. Her experience covers a variety of areas, including high profile criminal, constitutional and civil matters against firms as large as the United States Justice Department. She has tried extraordinarily complex cases involving criminal matters, family law, federal discrimination/harassment, construction claims, malpractice and a broad range of other issues.
Thomas Lee Wright - on Legal Advocacy, Writing, and Speaking Services
“Thomas
Coleman is a tireless advocate, an outstanding attorney and a true
voice for the voiceless in our society. He is as movingly eloquent
as he is superbly knowledgeable regarding the rights of those with
disabilities. He has an unparalleled track record of courageously
confronting systemic oppression and has been successful throughout
his life-long career as a champion for the disadvantaged in the
fight for social justice and judicial equity. Tom is an inspiring
speaker and insightful writer. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of
working with him as he authored two chapters in a book about elder
abuse that I edited. I personally observed the professional
presentation of a documentary film about his guardianship reform
advocacy at the World Congress on Adult Guardianship in Seoul, South
Korea which was enthusiastically received by the diverse audience in
attendance. His work is always excellent - the product of a keen
mind, impeccable honesty, persuasive demeanor and sterling
character.”
Thomas Lee Wright is an Academy Award and Emmy-nominated filmmaker and non-fiction author whose book ‘The Family Guide to Preventing Elder Abuse’ is available online and in bookstores everywhere. Edith + Eddie, the Oscar-nominated documentary film he produced with director Laura Checkoway, is a love story about an inter-racial couple in their nineties who were victims of guardianship abuse.
Linda Demer, M.D., Ph.D. - on Speaking Services
"Tom
Coleman has served as a guest speaker on several occasions for the
UCLA upper level course on neurodiversity and the autism spectrum,
addressing the topic of legal considerations facing people with
disabilities. His presentations have been compelling, enlightening,
comprehensive, and engaging. The students gave his talks superb
evaluations. He has tremendous expertise and experience in the
field of disability rights, especially in the context of the autism
spectrum.
Dr. Linda Demer is a Professor of Medicine, Physiology, and Bioengineering at UCLA. She is the author of "The Autism Spectrum: Human Rights Perspectives," Pediatrics, Vol. 141, No. s4, April 2018 (American Academy of Pediatrics). Dr. Demer has been teaching a psychology class titled "Perspectives on Autism and Neurodiversity" since 2014. She has served on the board of directors of the Autism Society of Los Angeles and is a member of the human rights committee of the international disability rights organization known as TASH.
Sam Sugar, M.D. - on Speaking Services
"Attorney
Tom Coleman is a renowned expert in the field of probate and
guardianship law. As the legal director of the Spectrum Institute in
California, he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and both
theoretical and hands-on experience advocating for the less
fortunate in our society. Tom’s speaking and educational
skills were on full display in a stunning presentation on
guardianship accountability in Tampa, Florida at the AAAPG Florida
2019 Summit on abusive guardianship. His remarkable ability to
clearly convey his sophisticated and erudite message to advocates
from around the country was the highlight of the event and left the
audience in awe of his skills and passion."
Sam J. Sugar, M.D. is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine residing in Hollywood, Florida. He is the founder and director of Americans Against Abuse Probate Guardianship. Dr. Sugar has been extensively published and quoted in the media on his activism against probate guardianship elder abuse and has been instrumental in developing and passing guardianship reform laws in Florida. He is a frequent lecturer and contributor to social media on the subject of abusive guardianship. Dr. Sugar is the author of Guardianship and the Elderly: The Perfect Crime. (2018) The book is designed to explain the guardianship process clearly and make the reader aware of the common violations carried out by court insiders and their affiliates.
Evan Craig Nelson
- on Consulting Services
"Tom
Coleman is a sincere and zealous advocate for the rights of persons
who are unable to speak for themselves. He provides attorneys with
key strategic input and timely updates on the current laws and
arguments being developed to challenge the existing policies and
procedures that create difficult battles for all who attempt to
protect, preserve, strengthen and reinstate fundamental rights to
those with disabilities who have been placed, sometimes forced
against their will, into our judicial system."
Joseph Reyes
- on Consulting Services
"Mr.
Coleman is phenomenally knowledgeable and helpful in the area of
conservatorships. His advice has been invaluable in protecting the
rights of my conservatorship clients. Recently, Mr. Coleman
assisted me in a complicated conservatorship case that required my
constant attention. With his help, I was able to better advocate for my
client’s rights. I fully expect to utilize his knowledge for all
my future cases that have complications or that may need to go to trial.
I would not hesitate to recommend him to any attorney needing assistance
in the area of conservatorship defense."
Lanny Jesse Davis - on Legal Advocacy
“I want to remind everyone in the world about the victims of our
probate courts – a division of the judicial branch that is filled
with professional conservators, guardians, and lawyers who feed off
the estates of the helpless and the defenseless, and especially,
those who can’t defend themselves from false assertions of
disabilities – that Tom Coleman is a genuine hero. He fights for the
victims, he fights for the truth, and he does so with the passion of
someone who knows that too many players in the probate court system
in this country are out for themselves and prey upon the defenseless
– the elderly, the young, and those who can’t afford their own
attorneys to fight back.
Cheryl Mitchell - on Research and Writing
"Thomas
F. Coleman has done a masterful job of researching and writing
Capacity Assessments in California Conservatorship Proceedings.
This report is replete with citations to legal authorities, as well
as actual examples of conservatorship cases gone awry. Its
recommendations establish a clear and concise path that can be used
to significantly improve the current conservatorship system. This
report is a must-read for anyone who wants to have a better
understanding of why the current conservatorship system is broken
and the steps that must be taken to improve it."
Cheryl Mitchell, an elder law attorney in Spokane, Washington, has been in practice for thirty-five years. Cheryl and her husband, Ferd H. Mitchell, are partners and authors of seven volumes of Washington Practice–a series of books on Washington State law for attorneys. They are authorsof four volumes of Methods of Practice, two volumes on elder law and one volume on Washington probate and practice. Washington Practice is published by Thomson Reuters WestLaw, the largest publisher of legal books in the nation.
Kevin Bigelow - on Research and Writing
"I've
just finished reading your paper on the Capacity to Consent to
Sex, and I am very impressed! I think that it is a very
thorough and significant piece. You have done, in my opinion, what
most trainers, writers of trainings, policy makers, and other
professionals in the Adult Protective Services and related fields
would like to do; but have neither the time nor expertise to
pursue.That is to address the question of capacity to consent to sex
from various state perspectives, as well as from a rather human
perspective. One note as a trainer and writer/interpreter for
training materials; your paper is very well researched and
documented as it should be. And, I can't resist adding, for
something written by an attorney, is very understandable for we mere
mortals who are not attorneys. Thank you for giving me the
opportunity to read your paper. It is terrific, and much needed
information."
Kevin Bigelow is a trainer and consultant specializing in the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable populations and disaster preparedness for elderly persons and persons with physical or mental challenges. Working for Orange County CA government for 25 years, Kevin was an APS worker and supervisor, and later served as the Adult Services Training Coordinator and Emergency Management Coordinatorfor O.C. Social Services. Since he retired in 2011 Kevin gives, writes, and consults on trainings and e-learnings pertaining to APS. Kevin recenty retired from his position as the Coordinator for the Certificate Program of the National Adult Protective Services Association.
Paul Greenwood - on Research and Writing
"I
am in agreement with Kevin Bigelow as to his comments about your
paper. You have taken a very delicate topic and provided a
fascinating overview. It is clear that you took considerable time to
research the concept of consent. So I have no problem in attaching
my name to any “endorsement” of this specific work.
Paul Greenwood has been an attorney for over 40 years. For 13 years he worked as a legal aid lawyer in the UK. From March 1993 until March 2018, he worked as a deputy district attorney for the San Diego DA’s office. In January 1996, Paul established that office’s elder abuse prosecution unit and has prosecuted over 600 felony cases of elder or dependent adult abuse. Paul is now concentrating on motivating other prosecutors around the nation to get more involved in elder abuse prosecutions.
Bella De Paulo -- on Legal Advocacy
Those
of us who are interested in fairness for single people have a
wonderful role model in Thomas F. Coleman, who spent decades
advocating for unmarried equality. What Thomas Coleman has
accomplished in the years he spent advocating for unmarried and
single people in the U.S. is truly impressive. I have seen some of
his talents first-hand, when I had the great good fortune of working
with him when I was the Chair of the Academic Advisory Board of the
American Association for Single People
Jay M.
Kohorn - on Legal Advocacy
"Thomas
F. Coleman is a conceptual visionary. When I first met Tom in the
1970s, he was already ahead of his time, using his extraordinary
legal, political and educational skills along with his amazing
perception of how the world should and could be, to help change the
way people perceived 'sexual minorities.' He was an early advocate
of a multi-disciplinary approach that included law, education,
psychology, medicine and politics.
"Tom
established and was the engine that propelled the California
Commission on Personal Privacy under Governor Jerry Brown and Los
Angeles City Attorney Burt Pines in the 1980s. On that commission,
Tom inspired the participation and hard work of some of the best
minds in California, from a large range of professions and
communities. When I say 'inspired,' I mean that he lit fires in the
hearts of virtually everyone with whom he came in contact. He
believed in the power of coalitions and taught that empathy toward
and inclusion of others, especially under-represented minorities
(from people of color to people with disabilities), was the key to
establishing mutual respect among those communities and the support
of the community at large. He advocated a holistic approach long
before it was popular to do so.
"As a practicing lawyer,
especially in the constitutional appellate arena, Tom was also a
visionary. He often said that all three branches of government were
underutilized in the movement for equal rights, and he engaged them
all.
"In a nutshell, Tom has engaged government – all three
branches – and challenged communities to fashion practical solutions
to problems of discrimination of many kinds, including those against
families and relationships of diverse definitions, using dialogue
and education rather than a stick. The objective was also to bring
the law into focus with the reality of people's lives, beyond
ideology, to fulfill the promise of the United States Constitution
and the constitutions of the states.
"This is just a
smattering of what can be said about Thomas F. Coleman, his
integrity, courage, coalition-building and history-making vision."
Jay M. Kohorn is the Assistant Director of the Los
Angeles office of the California Appellate Project.
Burt Pines - on Research and Writing
"We
all owe the greatest debt of gratitude to the Executive Director of
the Governor’s Commission on Personal Privacy, Thomas F. Coleman.
His participation in the project stems back several years to work in
this and other states on many related issues, not only as an
attorney, but as an educator and noted legal scholar. He personally
wrote the first draft of the executive order establishing the
Commission and assisted the staff of Governor Jerry Brown in all
aspects of the project, from obtaining funding to choosing
personnel.
"As Executive Director, Mr. Coleman brought together, tapped the resources of, and inspired the participation of other scholars and professionals throughout the country and the state. The sheer volume of research and breadth of coverage of the report were possible only through his indefatigable energy, his superb research and writing skills, and his selfless devotion to the tasks of the Commission. In truth, Mr. Coleman was the guiding light of the Commission from its inception to the publication of its report."
These remarks were made in connection with the release of the report of the Governor's Commission on Personal Privacy in December 1982.
Burt Pines served as the City Attorney of Los Angeles from 1974 to 1981. He was chairperson of the Governor Jerry Brown's Commission on Personal Privacy from 1980 to 1982. He later served as the judicial appointments secretary to Governor Gray Davis. He later was appointed and then elected as a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He is now retired.
Arthur C.
Warner, Ph.D., LL.B. - on Advocacy
This
should be viewed as a small token of recognition for your continuing
work to elevate the movement for gay civil liberties into a cause
worthy of inclusion in the roster of crusades for social justice. It has mattered not whether the objects of your concern were
transgendered persons, the handicapped, the elderly, homosexuals or
heterosexuals, your labors in the vineyard of ethics have always
served as a paragon for humanity.
In your own life you
transformed your narrow, parochial schooling into a personal credo
of inclusivity, thereby enlarging everyone's vision of morality. And
you continue to pursue your goal of righteousness under the
framework of the American constitutional system, now become the
avatar of morality within the mansion-house of human conscience.
Time will ultimately redress the imbalance which continues to
deny you your due.
These comments
are taken from a letter written in 1998 by Arthur C. Warner (1918 -
2007). Warner, a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard
Law School, was the founder and co-chair of the National Committee
for Sexual Civil Liberties (1970 - 1982) later known as the American
Association for Personal Privacy (1982 - 2000). Warner delivered an
earlier
testimonial when Tom received the Mathew O. Tobriner Sexual
Civil Liberties Award in 1981.