Stan Lee was a victim of elder financial abuse

If you follow the Marvel comic strips and now their many incarnations in movies, the most recent one opening now — “AntMan and the Wasp” — you might recognize the name Stan Lee as cocreator who with Steve Ditko, fashioned such characters as Spider Man and the Incredible Hulk, and began it all.

Steve Ditko died this past week at age 90. Stan Lee, at age 95, continues on but has been the subject of litigation regarding elder financial abuse including a court order entered in a Los Angeles court last Friday.

This is what makes his story so common and so frustrating. When geniuses age and are no longer able to handle matters on their own, other frequently move in — some with helpful motives, others not. Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Ruth Kleman found Stan Lee’s former manager, Keya Morgan, did not.

As the story played out in the courts, Stan Lee’s daughter and only child, J.C. Lee triumphed over Morgan and also managed to have her father’s lawyer, Tom Lallas no longer recognized by the court, even though Lallas was also struggling to restrain Morgan.

According to press accounts, the allegations against the manager, Morgan, included statements that he attempted to interfere with Lee’s ability to contact caregivers, doctors and family members, attempted to alienate Lee from his daughter, J.C., and was embezzling or misappropriating $5 million of Lee’s assets.

The remedy was a new restraining order following a temporary restraining order already issued, requiring that Morgan stay away from Stan Lee, from Lee’s daughter, J.C., and from Lee’s brother.

J.C. also provided a purported signed declaration from her father stating Lee’s attorney, Lallas, was fired.

Stan Lee’s wife, Joan, who was married to him for almost 70 years, passed not long ago. According to press accounts, this “left a void” that resulted