Attorney honored for work in helping an elderly woman who had been taken out of the country

Elise White is a rookie attorney with her own law practice in Lincoln.

This November, she was awarded the Citizen Meritorious Conduct Award by Tom Cassidy, Lincoln police chief. The award was presented at the graduation of the newest class of Police Academy graduates.

It was a gala occasion. Her family was there, Steve and Ann Woita of Lincoln, originally of North Bend and grandmother Alyce Wilke of Fremont.

Why she was so honored is a story of perseverance, courage and a testament to a finely tuned set of ethics.

Lawyers are often portrayed as “sharks.” There are jokes about them that hint of their black hearts that team with greed and a total lack of ethics or intelligence. But, not all lawyers fit that mold.

Those who know most intimately the characteristics of individual lawyers are likely to be the police officers and members of the courts who deal with them on a daily basis.

So how did a fledgling lawyer, a 2006 graduate of the University Of Nebraska Lincoln College Of Law, come to be honored?

“It began when I was contacted by Adult Protective Services,” she said. “They had received a complaint from a woman’s extended family regarding abuse and neglect. They were worried because she was missing and they believed she was in Mexico. It wasn’t until I actually talked to Lincoln Police investigators that they were able to confirm this.”

With this type of case, White serves as both attorney and guardian for the person. White was on the case immediately. First she got herself appointed as conservator so she could freeze her client’s assets.

“I was working with law enforcement and they were negotiating with the person who took her to Mexico and it was not working,” she said. “I went to court again to be appointed guardian which meant I could arrange for medical care and determine her abode.”

The police investigator, Cindy Koenig Wareke, had applied to an international exploitation bureau and they came up with funding to allow Lincoln personnel to accompany White to Mexico.

“The investigator and I went with an interpreter,” White said. “The investigator made all the contacts with the American Embassy. Going down, we didn’t even know if she was alive. The American Embassy was a part of the investigation �” they were there to make the contacts with local jurisdiction and Mexican authorities.

“We flew to Le�“n, Mexico. Le�“n is located in the Provence of Guanajuato, two hours from Mexico City. It was the closest city to the very small town where they were supposed to be living. We made contact with the American Embassy in Mexico City. A representative of the U.S. government flew to Le�“n to go with us the next day.”

At this point, things were very official with courts, police, consulate and the exploitation bureau as well as the law enforcement personnel of Mexico, involved and interested in the outcome. The Nebraskans spent the night at a hotel in Le�“n, using the time to arrange for travel back to the United States the next day.

This became another problem for White to solve. The woman was elderly with no passport. White has no idea how she got into Mexico in the first place. Her client had no identification on her.

“Re-entry was tricky,” White said.

There are two levels of customs for entry into the United States. The first is usually for women and children without proper documentation. The second, more difficult level, is mostly for men. White and her client were moved into the second level.

“We were able to talk to a senior custom official and we were released for entry,” she said. “Meanwhile, the Lincoln Police personnel were holding the plane for us.”

White got her client home. She placed her in a hotel for a week as the women’s house had not been lived in for three months and was not fit for occupancy. White was able to get her into an assisted living facility. When her client returned, her health was fragile and she had not been to a doctor for several months.

White said her client was exploited for approximately $70,000.

“I am still her guardian and conservator,” White said. “We have become friends. She’s an absolutely delightful woman.”

White’s practice specializes in the areas of family law and elder law. “There are people out there who will take advantage of the elderly,” she said. “Watch out for elderly relatives.”