The granddaughter of a recently deceased man has filed a declaratory judgment, asking the court to name her solely in charge of the man’s accounts.
Susan J. Oliver filed suit July 17 in the Jefferson County District Court against Edward Jones Security LLC, Patricia Motes and Gloria J. Oliver.
According to the complaint, Susan Oliver and her grandparents, Paul Denton Hillhouse and Bertie Margie Hillhouse, have two accounts with Edward Jones. Paul Hillhouse told several people he wanted Susan to control and manage the accounts, according to the complaint.
After Paul’s death May 28, two of his relatives, defendants Gloria Oliver and Patricia Motes, attempted to gain control of one of the accounts, the suit states. They approached a financial institution, utilizing a durable power of attorney, the complaint says.
However, the durable power of attorney limits the defendants from benefiting from the provision because they need a letter from a physician stating that Bertie Hillhouse is incompetent and cannot manage her own affairs, according to the complaint.
Still, the defendants continued to fight for control of the accounts by employing a lawyer and filing a complaint for appointment of conservator, the suit states. In their complaint, the defendants attached a letter signed by a nurse practitioner, the complaint says.
The defendants should have no control over Paul Hillhouse’s investments, according to the complaint.
Susan J. Oliver is seeking a declaratory judgment the investments in the Edward Jones accounts are under her control and that Gloria Oliver and Motes have no entitlement to them. She also seeks attorney’s fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.
She is being represented by attorney Bruce M. Partain of Wells, Peyton, Greenberg and Hunt in Beaumont.
Jefferson County District Court case number E-195890
This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Jefferson County District Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story.