Attorney General's News Release

Feb. 7, 1997

Nixon seeks removal of trustee from charitable trust that allegedly shrank from $700,000 to $25,000 in four years

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon on Thursday asked the Greene County Circuit Court to permanently remove Springfield attorney Garry E. Champion as sole trustee of the Edith M. Short Trust. Nixon alleged that since Champion became trustee of the charitable trust in late 1992, beneficiaries have not received payments as provided in the trust and that trust assets have been depleted from more than $700,000 to approximately $25,000.

"The management of a charitable trust carries with it the responsibility of carrying out the wishes of the person who set up the trust," Nixon said. "We have serious concerns about Mr. Champion's activities as trustee and want him permanently removed as sole trustee immediately."

The Edith M. Short Trust was established in 1985 to benefit the Springfield Community Foundation and such charities as the Shriners Hospitals, the Missouri Baptist Children's Home, the Greene County chapter of the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. Champion allegedly named himself as sole trustee on Sept. 22, 1992, four days before the death of Edith Short.

In addition to seeking Champion's permanent removal as trustee, Nixon asked the court to order Champion to reimburse, with interest, money that should have been paid to the beneficiaries and any money that should be in the trust. The lawsuit alleges that the beneficiaries only received one lump sum payment, instead of the semi-annual payments specified by the trust.

Nixon also is asking the court to prevent Champion from using or dispersing any trust funds. The Attorney General said the court has ordered Champion to provide an accounting of the trust for the years 1992-1996 on more than one occasion, and that the court appointed Thomas D. Carver as trustee ad litem on Jan. 9.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

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