Guardian ad litem-attorney sued over handling of minor's accident award

A woman claims her guardian allowed her mother to withdraw money from her account without her permission.

Alexis Nichols formerly known as Alexis Brueggeman filed a lawsuit Aug. 16 in Madison County Circuit Court against Edwardsville attorney David Fahrenkamp doing business as Fahrenkamp Law Offices.

In her complaint, Nichols claims Fahrenkamp was appointed guardian ad litem of her after she won money following a vehicular collision that occurred while she was a minor. As part of his job duties, Fahrenkamp was supposed to protect Nichols’s money, according to the complaint.

However, during the time that Fahrenkamp was appointed guardian ad litem of Nichols, Nichols’s mother was allowed to withdraw money from the account that held the funds Nichols was awarded following the collision, the suit states.

Nichols blames Fahrenkamp for causing her to lose money, saying he failed to monitor her mother’s requests for money to ensure that the money was being spent for Nichols’s benefit and failed to report any irregularities to the court so that withdrawals could be stopped.

In her complaint, Nichols seeks a judgment in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of Madison County Circuit Court, plus damages, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Charles W. Armbruster III and Michael T. Blotevogel of Armbruster, Dripps, Winterscheidt and Blotevogel in Alton will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-1395.