Two lawyers appointed by a Probate Court judge will investigate the finances of 81-year-old Madeline Walker, who was evicted from her Providence home of 42 years over an unpaid sewer bill.

09:20 AM EST on Tuesday, December 20, 2005

BY AMANDA MILKOVITS
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE -- An elderly woman evicted from her house for unpaid bills now has three court-appointed temporary guardians trying to sort out her tangled case.

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman

Attorney Joe Rodio, left, who was appointed by Governor Carcieri to help save Madeline Walkers home, speaks outside court with Steve Kass, the governors communications director, and Dennis Langley, director of the Urban League of Rhode Island.

What led up to 81-year-old Madeline Walker being evicted from the house she'd owned for 42 years began with an unpaid sewer bill. But the story promises to be far more complicated, with questions of other unpaid bills, family complications, and whether Walker comprehended that she was losing her home.

Her case attracted statewide attention when television stations filmed the elderly woman being evicted from her house at 122 Chester Ave. on a bitter cold day. Governor Carcieri called it "an outrage" and contacted Providence lawyer Joe Rodio to work pro bono to help save Walker's home.

At a Providence Probate Court hearing yesterday, Judge John Martinelli looked out into the packed courtroom of lawyers, reporters, and community activist groups and noted that while the crowd was unusual, such a case was not.

"I'm happy everyone's on board now, but I must tell you, there are numerous cases like this," Martinelli said. "I'm disappointed this case has gone this far without any activity by this court."

The judge appointed Rodio and Wickford lawyer Gary Davis to investigate Walker's finances. Rodio is focusing specifically on Walker's real estate dealings. After the court hearing, he vowed to get Walker's home returned.

Martinelli also appointed Derrill Wayne Isom, one of Walker's sons, as a guardian for her health and welfare.

Isom testified yesterday his mother was suffering from memory loss and was recently bedridden and unable and unwilling to come to court. The Urban League of Rhode Island is lodging Walker in an apartment on Hamilton Street, where Isom and other relatives are "taking shifts" in caring for her, he said.

Isom was the only one of Walker's children to appear in court yesterday. He has a brother, Curtis, who is also caring for their mother, and a sister, Sharon, who lives with Walker off and on, he said.

Journal photo / Andrew Dickerman

Derrill Wayne Isom speaks to reporters after he was named as a guardian for his mother, Madeline Walker.

There are several liens on the house at 122 Chester Ave., but the lien that got the most attention was an unpaid sewer bill. The Narragansett Bay Commission had issued a statement that it was confident of the legality and propriety of all actions regarding its 2003 lien sale on her property.

The commission said that Walker's account has been in arrears since 1999, although it had made several collection attempts, including budget plans, phone calls and delinquency notices.

The commission said Walker was notified in June 2003 that the account was selected for a Nov. 20, 2003, lien sale for an outstanding balance of $830.94, and said the certified notice was signed and returned.

The outstanding balance rose to $1,125.71, but a payment reduced the account to $836.39, the commission said. The lien was sold for that amount in November 2003 to Cobble Hill Development LLP, whose managing member is John E. Shekarchi.

Private companies or individuals can buy the tax liens on properties. They pay the lien and seek to recoup their expenses, plus interest, from the homeowner. If the homeowner doesn't repay the buyer within a year and a day, the buyer can charge legal fees as well and file a court petition for ownership of the property.

Last January, the Superior Court gave Cobble Hill the legal title to the property, which was then sold three more times in four months. The price rose each time, from $85,000, to $110,000, to $125,000.

The final owner is listed as Millenium Express Associates Inc., with a mailing address at 590 Cranston St.