Kennedy faces children in court [Kids say Joan is 'mentally unstable']

Boston Globe ^ | June 9, 2005 | By John Ellement

[johnny7]

Next week, Joan Bennett Kennedy is set to face her children when at least two of the three are expected to take the witness stand in a Barnstable County courthouse to say that she needs a permanent guardian, according to a Kennedy family friend.

[johnny7]

“ ...but court papers unsealed by the judge at the request of the Globe last week did not identify the mental illness allegedly affecting her ability to manage her life.”

Knowing the power of the Kennedy's in MA... they'll make one up.

[Bossy Gillis]

That poor woman had her life ruined by this clan. Wish she could have just put down the liquor and beat them at their own game.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Care to give us the back story to this?

[aynrandfreak]

That guardian business is just about who controls the money.

[maryz]

They already did: it's known as "she-can't-sell-her-beach-house-even-though-she-got-it-fair-and-square-in-the-divorce-settlement-'cause-we-won't-have-it-to-summer-in." Don't know if it's known to be fatal.

[Spok]

Well, she's getting off better than half a trip across a country bridge.

[DocH]

Joan's mentally unstable?!

What about Teddy-the-Hutt?

[what's up]

Wish she could have just put down the liquor and beat them at their own game.

That would have been great. But she would have had to be super-woman, as she would have had to take on the media and liberal establishment as well. Poor lady.

[Bossy Gillis]

You mean about her drinking? That is very well known, she has been in and out of rehab for years. Like another poster said, this is all about money.

[FFIGHTER]

Well at least they haven't tried the old Kennedy method to deal with their women; lobotomy.

[Bossy Gillis]

Don't you think her staying in Boston was not a good thing? She should have gotten far, far, away from that bunch.

[Lunkhead_01]

I hope the judge looks at those ungrateful reprobates and says: You're right. Your mother needs a conservator. You want to be the conservator, Teddy? Fine. You can be the conservator. However, I intend to order you to place all your mother's assets into a trust for her benefit. She can request you provide her with any of those assets she thinks she needs -- and you must give those assets to her unless you think there is a reason you should not do so. If you believe there is a reason you should not do so, you will petition this court to allow you to deny her access to her assets.

Further, if your mother does not believe she needs to spend money on anything, you will not spend money -- unless you think their is a necessity to do so. If that is the case, you will petition this court to force the expenditure.

If this court agrees with your mother that an expenditure is not necessary and you maintain it is, this court will err on the side of caution. The court will order the expenditure, but it will not order the expenditure from your mother's assets; it will order the expenditure from your assets. Further, it will order that you not be entitled to recoup any expenditures you make on behalf of your mother.

This court also finds that you and your siblings have a filial obligation to support your mother regardless of what assets she has. Since you and your siblings claim your mother needs assistance, I hereby order you and your siblings to pay for that assistance jointly and severally and not to recoup any funds you expend from any of your mother's assets.

Oh, and have a nice day!

[justshutupandtakeit]

While I despise the Kennedys I think not having your mother lying in the street deaddrunk is not the same as it being all about the money.

No one is going to claim this woman is in control are they?

[Torie]

In California, if Joan seemed competent on the stand, the case would collapse. One needs to be close to ga-ga to be "conserved" against one's will. But Mass has this habit of doing the royal family's bidding, like lapdogs.

[O Neill]

Sounds like an intervention, the widely recommended drug & alcohol rehabilitation treatment known to be effective for separating monied addicts from their drug-of-choice. The RIGHT thing to do imho.

It's never too late to begin recovery. If they succeed in getting Joan to the Betty Ford Clinic and to remain clean, she may still have time enough for some meaningful life.

I wish her the best. Now...if they could only get Senator Ted to enroll also....

[ken21]

this is a real on star conversation:


"hellwo...dis ... is hic ted kennedy...

i'm lost. i don't know who i am. i don't know where i am.

i was with a woman ... what was her name? last night ...

oh, could you unlock the doors on my oldsmobile?"

[foolscap]

Yes, it is amazing that she was mentally stable and according to some sources had not had a drink in ages until she wanted to sell her beach house. When she insisted on doing that suddenly she needed a guardian.

[what's up]

Don't you think her staying in Boston was not a good thing?

Maybe; however, I assume her kids were there so I would have expected her to stay near them. However, they don't seem so faithful to her now.

[johnny7]

or... 'Patches' needs a private dock for his sexual harassment cruises.

[foolscap]

While I despise the Kennedy's I think not having your mother lying in the street dead drunk is not the same as it being all about the money.

According to the police she had no alcohol in her system when she fell and hurt her arm recently. Old people fall for other reasons rather than being drunk.