By Christine Montanti
Guardianship abuse is a silent crisis unfolding across the country, affecting some of the most high-net worth and vulnerable members of society—our elderly and disabled. The tragic case of Dr. Ena Farley in New York highlights the urgent need for legislative reform to prevent the exploitation and mistreatment of those under court-appointed guardianship. Her story is a painful reminder of why guardianship reform laws like Karilyn’s Law (S2649) must be enacted to protect individuals from the devastating consequences of unchecked guardianship power.
According to Jonathan Farley, on February 5, 2023, 84-year-old Dr. Ena Farley was forcibly removed from her home, in Monroe County, New York, by police officers—despite no warrant, court order, or judicial authority permitting such an action. At the time, Dr. Farley had not been declared mentally incapacitated, nor had she been placed under an involuntary guardianship when she was physically restrained before being taken away against her will.
Her son, Jonathan Farley, a Harvard-educated mathematics professor who has been featured on local and national television networks for his initiative in creating mathematics programs for gifted students, witnessed this shocking event. Jonathan explains, that Dr. Farley was then placed in a care facility in Irondequoit, New York, where she was isolated from many of her family members and friends, denied access to legal representation, and medicated against her will. Jonathan reveals that a temporary guardian was not even appointed until five weeks after her abduction.
Jonathan Farley asserts the evidence suggests that Dr. Farley’s forced removal was orchestrated by her other son, allegedly in a scheme to sell her home unlawfully. The intended buyer was falsely presented as a home health aide but had close ties to Dr. Farley’s other son who was later named her legal guardian. These actions align with a disturbing pattern often seen in guardianship abuse cases—where vulnerable individuals are isolated, medicated, and stripped of their assets.
Sadly, Dr. Farley passed away in August 2024, just one year after her traumatic removal. According to Jonathan Farley, months before her death, $190,000 mysteriously vanished from her bank accounts, leaving them nearly empty. Jonathan believes that the financial exploitation, combined with her forced isolation and medication, ultimately contributed to her demise.
Jonathan has since spent six figures in legal fees trying to seek justice for his mother, but the damage has already been done. He believes that if Karilyn’s Law had been in place in the New York State Legislature, he would have been able to get into court within 10 days and possibly prevent the tragic sequence of events that led to his mother’s death.
Karilyn’s Law aims to prevent the exact type of abuse that befell Dr. Farley. By ensuring timely legal intervention and safeguarding the rights of individuals placed under guardianship, the law would provide essential protections against wrongful isolation and financial exploitation.
Guardianship abuse is a growing crisis that demands national attention. The case of Dr. Ena Farley is not an isolated incident—it is part of a broader pattern of systemic failures that allow for elder exploitation. The time for reform is now. We must act to protect our elderly from becoming victims of a legal system that, without safeguards, can be manipulated to serve the interests of the powerful over the vulnerable.
For those interested in supporting the cause, sharing Dr. Farley’s story, or advocating for the passage of Karilyn’s Law, now is the time to take action to ensure that no more lives are lost to the corruption and negligence of unchecked guardianship authority.
