As per the California Department of Aging, “Elder abuse is on the rise in California. More than 200,000 older and dependent adult abuse cases are reported in California each year, and it’s believed that abuse of older adults is significantly under reported.” Elder abuse and exploitation is, undeniably, a completely nonpartisan issue, since the fact of growing old is an inevitable reality for all Americans, no matter which side of the political aisle they adhere to.

As the last group of Baby Boomers, those born between 1947 and 1964, most of whom are well into their mid-60’s and, when one looks at the earliest-born of that Generation, have already passed away, it is critical that the innumerable and horrific cases of various kinds of abuse and exploitation against this diminishing population of Americans is brought to the front and center of the judicial system, the political system and, equally as important, in the forefront of the American media.

In Springville, California, a CNS (Census-Designated Place) in Tulare County, just 267 miles from San Francisco, a severe Case of elder abuse, including financial exploitation, intimidation, as well as alleged civil conspiracy and grand theft, has culminated in a brutal attempt to force a 65 year-old, American-born business owner out of his long-standing rental home, one in which he has personally invested more than $300,000 in making ecological and self-sustaining renovations and improvements, has now been brought to the attention of Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Division of Medi-Cal and Elder Abuse, the Office of Senator Adam Schiff, the Office of Senator Alex Padilla and the Civil Rights Department of The State of California.

Mr. Brian Shilhavy, the Founder and Owner of Healthy Traditions, previously known as “Tropical Traditions”, as they were the first company to import virgin coconut oil into the U.S. from the Philippines back in 2002, as well as being a company which, for more than 20 years, continues to supply to their customers, a range of high-quality, all natural food products, natural pet food products, natural and safe cleaning products, grass-fed beef, bison, poultry, etc, as well as many other products for health and life-sustenance, is the most recent target of a case of elder abuse, in the form of alleged personal intimidation, financial exploitation, grand theft and civil conspiracy.

Mr. Shilhavy has, for more than two decades, not only provided his wonderful products to tens of thousands of customers, but has also been selfless in his furthering employment of the many people who have worked for or under independent contract with his company for 20+ years.

The Case of Mr. Shilhavy, despite it being one of the 200,000 reported Cases of Elder abuse in California annually, highlights the serious holes in the elder care system, the potential for malicious and brutal attacks of various kinds against the most vulnerable in our society, most of whom live on their own, often estranged from their families, or in over-crowded, improperly-staffed elder care facilities.

Mr. Shilhavy, 65 years old and in fragile respiratory, gastroenterology and cardiac health, due to the extreme stress caused by the recent events, and despite being not only an on-time rent-paying, non-problematic tenant, not to mention a 20+ year business partner and dear friend with the individuals seeking to now, clearly in a mode of retaliation to changes that were made in the Board of Directors Seats in Mr. Shilhavy’s company, force Mr. Shilhavy to vacate his home by the 25th of March, having served him with a 60-day, Owner Move-In (OMI) Eviction Notice, has made the decision to strike back, not only within the legal system to defend his own rights, but also by bringing his dire predicament to the attention of Attorney General, Rob Bonta, as well as Senator Schiff and Senator Padilla, Civil Rights Department of The State of California, and, most importantly, to the media, hence to the American people.

Elder Abuse Media, a recently-founded organization whose sole mission is to bring to the attention of the American people, the judicial system, State and Federal politicians and the National media, the dire predicament in which elderly persons such as Mr. Shilhavy are finding themselves every day in our Country and the irrefutable importance of making sure that cases of elder abuse, even relatively mild allegations of any kind, of which Mr. Shilhavy’s predicament is far from mild, are promptly and thoroughly investigated.

Neal David Sutz, Publisher of the recently-founded, Elder Abuse Media ( www.ElderAbuseMedia.com ), has set up this Online Signature Petition where individuals can sign their names in support of Mr. Shilhavy. Readers are also encouraged to directly call Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse in Sacramento at (800) 722-0432, as well as to directly call the San Francisco Offices of both Senator Adam Schiff at (415) 393-0707 and Senator Padilla at (415) 981-9369, urging them all to prioritize the dire situation of Mr. Shilhavy and, by whatever legal and media means at their disposal, to assure that Mr. Shilhavy, a dedicated, non-partisan, American citizen and American company owner, is thoroughly advocated for, protected and, most importantly, not forced out of his home, a horrific act which would not only displace Mr. Shilhavy personally as an elder, American citizen, but also potentially annihilate a company that has done and continues to do so much good in serving many thousands of people across America and worldwide.

Every signature on this Petition counts. Please take a moment to sign so we can help Mr. Brian Shilhavy save his home, his business and, by doing so, set a precedent in support of stopping all forms of elder abuse and elder exploitation.