(2 Jul 2018) KERRI KASEM ON MARVEL'S STAN LEE, WARNING SIGNS OF ELDER ABUSE
The highly publicized legal battles surrounding Marvel Comics mogul Stan Lee hit close to home for Kerri Kasem.
The radio personality became an advocate for the elderly and their adult children after having to fight to see her own father, Casey Kasem, before his death.
"In the last year of my father's life, his wife isolated him, keeping him away from us kids, all family members, his own brother, co-workers, friends. Nobody could get a hold of him. We wrote letters. We called. Nothing was answered. So we all protested in front of the house. Very peaceful protest. Most of my dad's friends are in their 80s so they were sitting and (held) signs that said, 'why can't we see dad?' 'I miss my brother.' And we called the police and they couldn't help us and we called adult protective services and they couldn't help us. Why? There are no laws allowing adult children to see their ailing parents in this country. Soon as you turn 18, you have no rights to see your parents unless, of course, you have the Kasem Cares visitation bill in your state. And I've been working for the last five years on changing the laws in this country so that adult children have rights to see their parents," Kasem said.
The past year has been tough and tumultuous for Lee.
After the death last July of Joan, his wife of 69 years and partner in all things, the 95-year-old has found himself in the middle of a fight over his finances and legacy that has led to lawsuits, a restraining order and a police investigation of elder abuse.
Key to Lee's situation is his only daughter, 68-year-old Joan Celia "JC" Lee, who has been dependent her entire life on her father, according to a notarized declaration signed by Lee in February that was drafted by attorney Tom Lallas.
There was also a restraining order granted against Keya Morgan, who has been acting as Lee's business manager and personal adviser. Morgan has vehemently denied that he has had any intentions other than helping his friend Lee.
"His daughter J.C. and I used to go to the same hairdresser," Kasem said. "So she came up to me last year and she sat with me for a while and she said, 'I just want to let you know that I admire what you did for your father.' You know, so I've read conflicting reports. Maybe she is the one (at fault). We don't know who it is. It could be this Keya Morgan. All I know is that when you have somebody - even if you have a contentious relationship - when you have siblings or you have a daughter and they want to see their parents, it's because they love them. So I'm just hoping those reports are not true. I know she loves her dad and I just hope she's not involved with some bad characters that are taking advantage."
Morgan's restraining order does not allege he engaged in physical abuse of Lee, but that he isolated him from associates, friends and relatives, which is itself considered a form of elder abuse.
"Isolation is the number one red flag for abuse," Kasem said. "Because when you take your victim and you isolate them, you can then abuse them physically, financially, emotionally, sexually. So it's not just in elder abuse. It's in most cases of abuse. You isolate the individual and that is a huge red flag. So if mom or dad can't come to the phone anymore or they're not feeling well all the time or they're not getting things you're sending them or maybe they're not returning calls or texts, that is a major red flag."
Morgan, 42, did not respond to multiple emails seeking comment, and his cell phone has not been accepting messages for weeks.
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