Woman’s Guardian Claims YMCA Hired a Crook

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (CN) - A YMCA employee with a criminal record swindled a disabled elderly woman out of money and property, the woman's guardian claims in court.

Kelly White, guardian for Jacquelyn Meek, sued the YMCA and Daniel J. Robinson, in St. Clair County Court. They accuse Robinson of abusing his position with the YMCA to exploit Meek.

"Daniel J. Robinson financially exploited the plaintiff, Jacquelyn R. Meek, by dishonestly making her believe that he was acting in her best interest while he converted personal and real property of the plaintiff to his own benefit," the complaint states.

White says Robinson never should have been put in a position to exploit Meek.

"Daniel J. Robinson's criminal record shows a history of theft related crimes and for that reason, the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care and breached its duty in selecting, hiring, and retaining Daniel J. Robinson when the defendant knew or should have known that Daniel J. Robinson would embezzle the plaintiff's real and personal property," the complaint states.

White claims the embezzlement "would never have occurred without the hiring complicity of defendant" YMCA. And she claims the YMCA "failed to act in any curative manner" when Meek's family told it what Robinson had done.

Meek seeks more than $50,000 and punitive damages for negligent hiring and retention, breach of contract and conversion.

She is represented by Stephen R. Clark, with Courtney, Clark & Mejias.

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