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H. Blanton Brown was a successful attorney practicing oil and gas law in Oklahoma City when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2008. As is often the case, Blant's cognitive impairments first became apparent in the work place. Unfortunately, the workplace was his own law firm and none of his employees were willing to say that "the emperor had no clothes on." So, instead of questioning his behavior, all of his employees including attorneys, resigned rather abruptly. He was left with no support staff at a very vulnerable time in his life---when he was being tested for dementia.

Around this same time, another law firm discovered mistakes Blant had made on legal work, and vowed to "bury Blant Brown" for those mistakes. They have continued to pursue him with a vengeance to this day---approximately one year after he received the final conclusive diagnosis of Alzheimer's.
This is one of this country's largest law firm and their complete, callous disregard for a person who has received this horrible diagnosis is a tragic reflection of the values in this country.

In the meantime, our family has lived through hell. You see, Blant Brown is only 54 years old. He has three children who are 21, 18, and 15 years old. They did not see this future coming. Now they know that they will watch their father whither away and die as they are just becoming adults. They know it could take only a year or two or it could take longer. They know that the average life expectancy is 7-8 years from diagnosis to death. They know that their dad will not recognize them in a few years. They also know at their young ages the implications for their own lives of having a first degree relative with this disease.

The injustice and cold, callousness of some people in this picture has changed the personalities of these children forever. They know that Blant Brown would not have treated others in the way he has been treated and he was a major influence in the development of their own values. So, what they have seen from others when their father was in need has left them reeling from shock as to how others have reacted like sharks who smell blood circling in for the kill of a dying man.

These three children have inherited their father's intelligence and his considerable concern for people in need. It is unfortunate that they will not be able to receive the education goals that their father had envisioned for them. The lawyers have managed to spend all of the savings that were meant for the education of these children.

It would be very good for the Alzheimer's Association and other such groups to make legal advocacy for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's a service that they try to provide.
We know of another family locally who had a lawsuit filed against a former contractor who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Filing lawsuits against a person with Alzheimer's is a pretty low blow---how much more can a family take?