Commissioner Hill appeals injunction to keep her away from constituent’s money

Suspended City Commissioner, Regina Hill, is appealing a judge’s decision to restrict her access to an elderly constituent’s finances after being accused of exploiting the private funds for her personal benefit.

Hill was suspended from her seat on Orlando City Council following a felony indictment on seven charges related to fraud and elder abuse, to which she pleaded not guilty.

Hill is accused of exploiting a 96-year-old woman in her district and allegedly spending over $100,000 of her savings on things like makeup, new teeth, vitamin injections, a facelift, a trip to Miami, and using her as a co-signer on a new home. An Orange County judge ordered a permanent injunction to keep Hill away from the woman’s property and finances late last month.

Hill is appealing that decision and requesting a new hearing, with her attorney arguing the following points:

• The admittance of hearsay testimony of (the 96-year-old woman), pursuant to 90.803, was not applicable.
• The admittance of financial documents using the opinion testimony of Agent Brenton.
• The entry of injunction regarding the real properties when no evidence regarding the ownership of those properties was submitted.
• The 96-year-old woman’s absence from the hearing, despite being served with a subpoena and being told by counsel for the power of Attorney that (she) would be made available. Respondent was denied due process.
• The entry of the injunction against Ms. Hill from contact with (the woman) when there were no allegations of physical abuse or harm done to (to her).
• The Petitioner failed to meet the standard of proof for entry of an injunction.
• The Final Order failed to make specific findings for entry of the Permanent injunction.
• The denial of the Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss the Petition.

We asked attorney Moses DeWitt of DeWitt Law Firm (Website) to break down Hill’s chances with her appeal.

“In this case where the potential victim is 96 years old and there has been an allegation of reckless spending to the tune of more than $100,000, I would be surprised if Commissioner Hill re-gained access to the elderly woman’s finances, but that doesn’t mean that an appellate court might not find that there was error and order a new hearing be conducted.”

– MOSES DEWITT, JUSTCALLMOE.COM

Hill is scheduled to stand trial for criminal charges on July 22. At the time of this post, the judge had not made a decision on whether to grant her a new hearing.

A special election for her former District 5 seat is scheduled for May 21.