Today in Lenawee County Probate Court, the Honorable Catherine A. Sala conducted a review to determine whether Dale Warner and Mark Weisberg had taken the actions necessary to comply with court orders. Last Wednesday, Dale and Mark were found guilty of civil contempt of court and taken into custody.
Dale Warner is the husband of Dee Ann Warner. She was reported missing by her adult children on April 25, 2021. Dee told several people she was going to tell Dale she wanted a divorce and to sell their various businesses. A friend took Dale and Dee’s minor child overnight to shield her from a potentially contentious argument. The next day, Dee had vanished.
Mark Weisberg was an accountant before he was sent to prison for embezzlement. Now, he refers to himself as Dale’s consultant.
Dale and Mark were court ordered on several occasions in the last year to turn over financial documents to the Successor Conservator of Dee’s estate. During today’s review, their lawyer, Lawrence Leib, announced they had produced everything that was requested. He also extended an open invitation to the Successor Conservator and his attorney to review whatever accounts they wished to see. “There’s no gamesmanship here. We’re transparent,” Leib said.
John Polderman, attorney for the Successor Conservator, agreed he had received many documents in the last week, but was still waiting on some items, including the passwords to view additional financial records.
Mr. Leib said, “We’ll comply with whatever the court asks us to do.”
The Honorable Catherine A. Sala agreed that the “lion’s share” of the required records had been turned over, but Mark and Dale still needed to produce the remainder. She is also waiting for them to set up a bank account with the Successor Conservator so he can see the banking activity in real time. Therefore, Dale and Mark will remain in Lenawee County Jail until they are in full compliance.
Another review is scheduled for Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at 8:30 AM.
Dale and Mark were not physically in court today, but they participated in the review through Zoom.
After the review on Wednesday, at 9:00 AM the court will continue hearing the petition made by Dee’s adult children asking for a declaration of death. They do not believe Dee disappeared on her own accord. If their petition is granted, they plan to move forward with a wrongful death civil suit against Dale Warner.
For background information of Dee Ann Warner’s disappearance, you can start here. Join the Justice for Dee Facebook page for all the latest updates.
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