By Matt Mackinder
Clarkston News Editor

Christian Chambers has been a fixture in Clarkston his entire life.
A 1993 graduate of Clarkston High School, Chambers can be seen on the sidelines for Clarkston varsity football games as an honorary “coach,” something cerebral palsy hasn’t stopped him from enjoying the past 35 years.
Now, living in the community may be compromised as the house that Chambers’ parents left for him is in danger of being sold, unlawfully says Chambers’ family.
“This is the home he has lived in for 50 years, the home his parents promised to him when they could no longer be here to take care of him,” said Chambers’ sister-in-law Jennifer Chambers. “Christian’s parents were very clear in their intentions for his well-being when they would eventually not be here to take care of them. Christian’s mother has been in a nursing home the past six years. Her guardian (Jennifer Carney) recently seized an opportunity to sell the home, which is completely unnecessary. This guardian is also an attorney who in the last couple of years was removed by the state attorney general in her capacity to handle probate cases for the elderly under state care.”
Carney now has practices that are a concern to the Chambers family.
Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel relieved four public administrators, including Carney, of their responsibilities in Oakland and Macomb counties, including two who had been linked to guardianship issues in those counties.
“Now that we’ve concluded our elder abuse listening tour, our office is taking a fresh look at how we provide critical services and resources to Michigan residents based on the feedback we received,” Nessel said in Aug. 2019. “After reevaluating our needs, we decided to relieve these public administrators of their appointments.”
Carney did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.
“Christian has grown up in our amazing community,” Chambers noted. “This community has known him through his younger days at SCAMP, Special Olympics, Clarkston Community Church, football, and more. He now has a different story to tell and needs the help of his community so that he can stay a part of it.”
Nicole Shannon, a systemic advocacy attorney with the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative, has been retained by Christian to take on this battle, one that will head to mediation on Dec. 7. If that does not yield results, the case will go to court Dec. 21.
“Christian Chambers has retained me to represent him in this matter,” Shannon said. “His mother, Doreen Chambers, has a detailed estate plan. That plan makes two things clear: (1) She wants her family in charge of her affairs if she is no longer able to act on her own behalf, and (2) Christian is to remain in his home. Unfortunately, a stranger is in charge of Doreen Chambers’s affairs, and that stranger is trying to sell Christian’s home.
“We are asking that the court follow Doreen Chambers’s estate plan, which will let Christian remain in the family home. Christian and his brothers are united to ensure this happens. I trust that the court will make the right decision.”
Paul (Chambers, one of Christian’s brothers) has his own retained lawyer and the other family members are self-represented. Shannon is taking Christian’s case pro bono, so charging no legal fees as she works for a non-profit and represents all her clients for no charge.
The family has set up a Give Send Go account (givesendgo.com/savechristianshome) to help with the legal and financial costs to keep the house, which the family says is current on the mortgage.
“At this time, the initial attorney fees are being covered by my brother-in-law, but it would appear at some point those fees could get excessive,” Chambers said.
At the end of the day, the Chambers family wants to see that the right decision is made.
“We also ask for your prayers that the court will find in favor of Christian, honoring his parents’ wishes for their son to continue to live, work, and provide fellowship in the community he has always known,” Chambers said. “We are grateful to the Clarkston community for supporting our brother throughout the years.”

PHOTO: Christian Chambers has been on the Clarkston football sidelines for the past 35 years. Photo: Wendi Reardon Price