VAPA is an acronym based upon Washington State law which stands for “Vulnerable Adult Protection Act”. The statutes can be found under chapter 74.34 RCW (which is actually called “Abuse of Vulnerable Adults”). A Vulnerable Adult is essentially anyone who is over the age of 60 years old and either disabled, incapacitated, living in a facility or living at home with caregivers.
The Act is intended to protect such people from the abuse, neglect and financial exploitation by others. Remedies available in court can include restraining orders to protect these vulnerable people from ongoing abuse or exploitation by other people.
The Act also includes civil remedies which allow the vulnerable adult, or someone acting on his or her behalf, to initiate legal action against people who have financial exploited the victim for damages, including the recovery of money and/or property which was taken from them by someone through fraud, misrepresentation, undue influence or coercive manipulation. Thus, the Court has broad powers under VAPA to fashion equitable remedies to protect these vulnerable people from those who would take abuse or neglect them, or take advantage of their vulnerability for their own financial gain.
The Newton Kight law firm has several attorneys who have extensive experience under this Act in initiating Petitions for restraining orders under VAPA, and defending against such petitions when they brought for ulterior and improper purposes. Our attorneys have also filed many Petitions on behalf of elderly and disabled clients to recover their money and property which has been misappropriated through financial exploitation or by the manipulation of others.