This email exchange from December, 2024 concerned Emanuel’s request for 1) a means to challenge on a scientific basis the diagnosis of Marie-Louise Rouff as suffering from Alzheimer’s when it was so clear to him, living together with her for two months, that she was not, 2) that Mr. Coogan destroy the copy of this diagnosis that Michael had given to him without his mother’s permission, 3) that Marie-Louise be allowed to meet her own lawyer when she wished to.
Coogan denied her all such rights and stated in closing
“You Emanuel, have attacked my character and professionalism. I do not wish to have any further communication with you. I will keep any and all communication through Michael and Marie-Louise.”
Thus ending all ability of Emanuel to discuss the most critical parts of Marie-Louise’s case. The exchange reveals just how deeply involved in the conspiracity Coogan was.
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2024 9:19 PM
To: Geoghan Coogan <cooganlaw@gmail.com>; Michael Pastreich <michaelrpastreich@gmail.com>; Marie-Louise Rouff <mlrouff@gmail.com>
Subject: legal issues for my mother
Dear Mr. Coogan,
Thank you for your kind attention to my mother’s affairs and legal rights.
I do hope we can engage in a discussion of the solution to a variety of legal matters concerning my mother that sadly have caused unnecessary confusion.
The first and foremost concerns your policy, based on a conversation with my mother and my brother, of holding that you cannot meet with my mother unless my brother Michael Pastreich is present.
It is clear that my mother does not agree with this policy and my brother did not suggest in our conversations that there was some absolute need for him, and only him, to be with my mother when she speaks with you.
She says that she may well have made such a comment at the time, but it was not meant to be an absolute rule. In fact, she has proven herself to be entirely capable of meeting with experts on her own and discussing complex issues.
My mother has said repeatedly that she wishes to have the right, as should obvious, to meet with her lawyer at any time, alone, or accompanied by whomever she should desire. This request seems entirely rational and legally justified.
Please do be so kind as to inform us of what steps my mother would have to take in order for you to change your policy. I assume that you can draft a letter in her name that fully empowers her that she can sign and mail to you. She can have it notorized if necessary.
In addition, I understand that you have a copy of a diagnosis by a neurologist Dr. Absar of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital which suggests that my mother suffers from alzheimer’s disease. This diagnosis is inaccurate and as I spent an hour with this doctor, I have grave doubts about her professional abilities. This diagnosis can in no case be used as grounds for questioning my mother’s compency. If the decision that she cannot meet you unless accompanied by my brother Michael is based in any degree upon that diagnosis, I request that you make that argument explicit so that I can respond.
My mother and her friend Maria Clara told me that this diagnosis was sent to you without my mother’s consent by my brother. My brother tells me that my mother fully approved the sending of this letter. I have no proof of anything, but my mother does not understand why it was sent and I do not either.
I would like to propose that you read through a letter that I will draft with the intention of sending to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital challenging the two diagnoses and give me your advice as to how the letter should be framed, and to it should be addressed.
I also have some questions regarding the Will, Power of Attorney, and medical proxy but those matters are far less pressing than restoring my mother’s basic rights as a client of yours.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Most respectfully.
Emanuel Pastreich
President
The Asia Institute
(Washington D.C., Seoul, Tokyo)
1 (650) 563-2847 USA
81 (0)80 4940 8782 (Japan)
On Mon, Dec 2, 2024 at 11:11 AM <michaelrpastreich@gmail.com> wrote:
Emanuel,
My suggestion is that neither you nor I ever meet with Mr. Coogan without him inviting the other to attend the meeting. In my proposal, meetings would need to be set several days in advance and both you and I can choose whether or not to attend, but that we both would be invited with due notice. My assumption is that is possible with the use of Zoom.
I agree that Maman should be able to meet with Mr. Coogan alone any time she wishes, but should never sign legal papers without me being present, you being invited, and the two of us having a chance to review the document in advance.
Mr. Coogan, is that possible?
Michael
——- Forwarded Message ——-
From: Geoghan Coogan <cooganlaw@gmail.com>
Date: On Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 at 1:22
Subject: Re: legal issues for my mother
To: michaelrpastreich@gmail.com <michaelrpastreich@gmail.com>
CC: Emanuel Pastreich <epastreich@protonmail.com>
Emanuel,
You have misunderstood any “policy”. When Marie-Louise last visited me, she was accompanied by Michael and Maria Clara. At that meeting Marie-Louise was explicit that she not sign any legal documents without Michael being physically present.
I am happy to meet with Marie-Louise on her own. If she wishes to do so, I would simply like to know what the topic of discussion is to be prior to that meeting. I am very concerned about her diagnosis and her cognitive ability to change any testamentary documents. If that were a request of hers, then an additional meeting with an independent third party (Maria Clara for example) would be warranted. I do not agree with your statement that the Doctor’s diagnosis is incorrect, or that the care service around her is inept. I myself have had several meetings with Marie-Louise and her cognitive decline was evident in those meetings. My job is to protect her and her alone.
When she met with Attorney Tomassian, she did not even know she had done the complete set of documents that were done in my office, and which had been worked on since 2014. So your statement that she does not have any mental health concerns, is frightening to say the least.
The client I have right now is Marie-Louise. I had advised Michael to simply cc me on any communications regarding her care so that there is a written record of the actions taken on her behalf.
You Emanuel, have attacked my character and professionalism. I do not wish to have any further communication with you. I will keep any and all communication through Michael and Marie-Louise.
—
Geoghan E. Coogan, Esq.
Edmond G. Coogan Law Office, P.C.
4A Causeway Road
P.O. Box 1639
Vineyard Haven, Ma. 02568
Ph: 508.693.3200
Fax: 508.693.7316
Email: cooganlaw@gmail.com