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AG Nessel Appoints Scott L. Teter as New Head of Michigan’s Elder Abuse Task Force

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today announced Scott L. Teter will take over the leadership role for the Department of Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force.

As head of the Department’s Financial Crimes Division, Teter oversees the White Collar Crime Unit – the largest in Michigan – as well as the Child Support Unit, which he helped create in 2002. To date, the Child Support Unit has collected over $390 million in support for over 28,000 Michigan Children, which was a continuation of Teter's work in the Cass County Prosecutor’s office, where he prosecuted over 250 cases of Felony Non-Payment of Child Support and collected over $1 million in 4 years.

Teter’s background in supporting seniors comes from his role as head of the Financial Crimes Division, which handles many cases involving elderly victims. He also supervises the Department’s Elder Abuse Unit. 

“Scott brings decades of experience and knowledge to his role as head of our Elder Abuse Task Force and I know he will continue his tireless work to improve the lives of Michigan seniors,” Nessel said. “The task force has accomplished a great deal since its inception and I look forward to Scott’s leadership going forward, especially in helping create the Office of State Guardian, which will provide support and guidance to guardians and conservators.” 

Nessel ceated the Elder Abuse Task Force shortly after she took office in 2019. The task force consists of more than 55 different organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors – all working together to combat elder abuse. 

Teter led the Elder Abuse Task Force at its inception and is returning to lead the organization he helped establish.  

The EATF championed the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act (FEPA) that took effect in September of last year. The passage of FEPA was part of the Task Force’s first set of Initiatives. Providing comprehensive training to implement the Act is part of the second set of initiatives.

The Act requires financial institutions to report suspected or detected covered financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to adult protective services or law enforcement. FEPA also requires financial institutions to implement training for employees to recognize common types and signs of financial exploitation.

Background

Teter graduated from Thomas L. Cooley Law School and began his professional career at the law firm French & Lawrence, which became French, Lawrence & Teter a year later when he became a partner at the firm. From there, he went to the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office. While serving as the elected prosecutor in Cass County, Teter was selected as the 1998 Prosecutor of the Year by the Michigan Family Support Council for Exemplary Service to the Michigan Child Support Program. 

Also in 1998, Teter was the recipient of both the Michigan Family Support Council’s Prosecutor of the Year Award and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM) Faculty Member of the Year Award. 

While serving on the PAAM Board of Directors, Teter was appointed Chair of the PAAM Child Support Committee. In 2002, he was jointly appointed by Governor John Engler and Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Maura Corrigan to Co-Chair the Child Support Leadership Council, where he was tasked with reviewing Michigan’s child support system and recommending changes.  

A frequent lecturer, Teter has trained with the National Association of Attorneys General, the National District Attorneys Association, the American Prosecutor’s Research Institute, the National Sheriff’s Association, and PAAM. He is co-author of the Civil and Criminal Remedies chapter of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education publication, “Advising Clients on Elder and Disability Law.” 

“I am grateful to Attorney General Nessel and the Michigan Supreme Court for their commitment to the protection of elder adults in Michigan,” Teter said. “I am honored to serve with the many caring and knowledgeable individuals who serve on the task force. Our goal is to work together with our partners in the legislature and organizations across this great state to make Michigan a national leader in elder protection.” 

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