Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has filed a lawsuit claiming she is suffering from financial elder abuse and being denied access to funds from her late husband’s estate. This adds to a series of ongoing legal complaints filed by Feinstein and her daughter following her husband’s death last year.
The lawsuit, submitted this month, accuses trustees of Richard C. Blum’s estate of engaging in financial elder abuse. It alleges they are wrongfully withholding distributions from the estate that Feinstein is entitled to receive. Feinstein seeks the removal of these trustees for breaching fiduciary duties and holding them personally responsible for damages she has incurred.
Feinstein, 90, and Blum were married for over four decades before his death in 2022 at age 86 after battling cancer. Both had children from previous marriages. Feinstein, independently wealthy, and Blum, a financier, boasted an estimated net worth surpassing $1 billion.
The lawsuit reveals that on July 23, Feinstein named her daughter, Katherine Feinstein, as her attorney-in-fact under a limited durable power of attorney. Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge and current fire commissioner, has become a central figure in the legal matter.
Feinstein’s spokesperson, Adam Russell, commented, “This is a private legal matter. Senator Feinstein and her office won’t have any comment.”
Steven P. Braccini, attorney for Blum trustees Michael Klein, Marc Scholvinck, and Verett Mims, stated his clients have acted ethically and appropriately. He criticized Katherine Feinstein’s actions, suggesting her motivations are driven by greed rather than her mother’s needs.
Patrick Goodman, senior lecturer at the UCLA School of Law, highlighted the versatility of a durable limited power of attorney, which can serve various purposes, from aiding the legal process to ensuring decision-making ability for those facing illness or cognitive decline.
Goodman noted that in California, those responsible for wrongful actions regarding an elder’s property can be held liable for twice the property’s value if proven in court.
This lawsuit marks the third involving disputes between the senator and her daughter over Blum’s estate. In June, Katherine Feinstein filed a petition asserting the senator’s right to sell the family’s multimillion-dollar property. In July, the senator, represented by her daughter, accused trustees of denying distributions to cover medical expenses. Both cases remain unresolved.
Feinstein’s legal battles coincide with her recovery from health issues following her husband’s death. Her absence from the Senate created challenges for Democrats due to their slim majority. Nevertheless, her colleagues defended her, and there was limited public demand for her resignation.
Feinstein’s office has also faced inquiries about her medical condition and ability to fulfill her duties. She was hospitalized with shingles and later struggled with complications, including encephalitis, swelling of the brain. Despite these challenges, she is expected to return to the Senate after a recess in September.
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