What should have been a mere $200 fine for failing to appear in court, turned into a case that settled for $45,000 in fines.<\/p>\n
Judge David M. Murkowski, of the Kent County Probate Court, said that typically when someone fails to appear in court without an excuse, a small fine is imposed. In the case of VA regional counsel Roland L. Bessette, however, the case dragged on, became a \u201cproverbial federal case,\u201d and two years later was settled for $45,000 in attorney\u2019s fees \u2013 a burden that US taxpayers as a whole will bear.<\/p>\n
How could this happen?<\/p>\n
The case began when the VA became involved as an interested party in a veteran\u2019s conservator\u2019s probate filing because there were some inconsistencies in the filing. Bessette filed an appearance with the court as an interested party. In September 2011, Judge Murkowski issued a notice to appear at a scheduling conference, which Bessette failed to attend.<\/p>\n