The legal battle surrounding Take Care of Maya has taken a dramatic new turn, as the Kowalski family has filed a lawsuit against their former attorneys, accusing them of fraud, excessive fees, and misuse of millions of dollars tied to their high-profile medical malpractice case.
Filed in Sarasota County, Florida, the complaint alleges that attorneys Gregory Anderson, Jennifer Anderson, and their firm AndersonGlenn LLP violated fiduciary duties and improperly handled funds connected to the family’s legal proceedings.
Lawsuit Alleges Misuse of Settlement and Loan Funds
According to reporting from FOX 13 News, the Kowalski family claims their former legal team diverted funds meant for legal expenses toward personal purchases, including a luxury home and other high-value assets.
The lawsuit stems from the family’s widely publicized case against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, which resulted in a jury verdict exceeding $200 million in 2023 before later being overturned on appeal.
Court filings reveal that the dispute centers on how funds were managed after the verdict, particularly a complex advance funding arrangement totaling approximately $42 million. The family alleges that millions from this loan were improperly taken as fees or used for purposes unrelated to their case.
A major focus of the complaint is the attorneys’ fee structure. The Kowalskis argue that their legal team charged excessive contingency fees that may have violated Florida Bar regulations. The lawsuit claims fees were calculated at rates higher than what is typically permitted without court approval.
Additionally, the family alleges that client trust accounts—meant to securely hold funds on behalf of clients—were used improperly. According to the filing, money from these accounts was transferred, reclassified, or pledged in ways that primarily benefited the attorneys rather than the clients.
One of the most serious claims involves approximately $4 million allegedly moved into a separate account and used as collateral for a personal loan, which the plaintiffs say helped finance the purchase of a multi-million-dollar home.
The $42 Million Advance Funding Deal Under Scrutiny
The advance funding transaction sits at the center of the dispute. Designed to provide financial support during ongoing litigation, the loan reportedly came with high costs and conditions.
Court documents indicate the transaction included millions in fees, insurance premiums, and high interest rates, with repayment terms potentially exceeding 125% of the borrowed amount. The Kowalski family claims they were not fully informed of the risks or alternatives before entering the agreement.
The complaint further alleges that their attorneys played an active role in structuring and negotiating the deal, despite ethical rules that typically limit such involvement. The filing states that this participation created conflicts of interest and exposed the family to substantial financial risk.
Gregory Anderson has strongly denied the claims and indicated plans to file a counter-lawsuit against the Kowalski family for fraud and defamation.
In a statement cited by FOX 13 News, Anderson said:
“We took 50 percent of $9.9 million and left over $5 million in a trust account for Judge Carroll to ultimately decide if we should get our full fee.”
He also disputed claims regarding the advance funding loan, stating that neither he nor his firm provided the loan directly and that all financial transactions were documented. Anderson maintains that the firm acted within legal and ethical boundaries throughout its representation.
