On Friday, September 27, 2024, WBRZ reported that a potential conflict of interest emerged in a Baton Rouge succession case involving accusations against a caretaker and her attorney. The case centers on allegations that Melba Braud, a caretaker, improperly included herself as a beneficiary in the will of her late charge, Garrett Claybourn, without his consent.

Representatives for Beth Claybourn, the widow of Garrett Claybourn, filed a writ claiming that Maria Finley, the defense attorney for Braud, also represented presiding Judge Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts in an unrelated matter during the trial for the succession case. This dual representation raises questions about the impartiality of the judicial proceedings.

The case against Braud includes serious charges of cruelty to the infirm, stemming from accusations that she created a power of attorney for Garrett Claybourn while he was suffering from dementia. A grand jury has formally indicted Braud on allegations that she misappropriated Claybourn’s funds and named herself as a beneficiary in a will that designated her to inherit significant assets, including a $2 million condominium in Destin, Florida, along with stocks, bank accounts, firearms, and a portion of the interior design business owned by Beth Claybourn.

The writ filed by Claybourn’s legal team asserts that Finley’s failure to disclose her simultaneous representation of Judge Foxworth-Roberts constitutes a violation of mandatory disclosure rules. The writ claims that this oversight necessitates vacating any rulings made by Judge Foxworth-Roberts during the trial due to the potential conflict of interest.

Further complicating the matter, sources indicate that the state has dismissed the criminal charges against Braud. In light of these developments, Beth Claybourn’s attorneys are seeking a court ruling to validate a prior will and to have the case reassigned to a different division of the 19th Judicial District Court.

The Louisiana Judiciary Commission had previously investigated Judge Foxworth-Roberts for allegations that she misrepresented her military and nursing credentials in a 2020 advertisement. The findings of this investigation contributed to the scrutiny surrounding her role in the current case.

 

 

Source: WBRZ