FARMINGTON – A couple from Strong will continue acting as power of attorney for wealthy retired doctor Margarete “Gretl” Hoch of Phillips, and her finances will be audited, a judge ruled Thursday.

Justice Michaela Murphy denied a request to dissolve the temporary restraining order instituted to uphold Richard and Lorraine Chandler’s power of attorney over Hoch’s assets, estimated at $7 million, according to court documents.

The temporary order was issued by Justice Joseph Jabar to Richard and Lorraine Chandler of Strong in October 2007 on behalf of Hoch against a German couple and a Kentucky woman.

The order upholds Hoch’s designation of the Chandlers as having power of attorney with broad responsibilities over her personal, financial and medical affairs in 2001.

The restraining order also invalidates any purported power of attorney to John and Gudron Stifel of Germany and Mary Wagner-Burkhart of Kentucky or anyone else unless the court makes that decision. The Stifels own a German spa where Hoch has lived since August 2006. She has resided in Germany since December 2004.

From Thursday’s testimony in Franklin County Superior Court, it appeared Hoch, who had practiced medicine in Maine for 40 years, is ailing and in frail condition in Germany.

Murphy ordered a financial accounting from all parties involved in the United States and Germany, including Hoch herself, to find out where Hoch’s money has been spent since Jan. 1, 2006.

Hoch has about $7 million in assets in both countries, with the U.S. assets targeted to go to charitable Maine organizations upon her death, documents state.

The Chandlers filed a lawsuit last year against the Stifels and Wagner-Burkart on Hoch’s behalf to protect her well-being and assets after purported transfers of power of attorney were made to them.

When the Chandlers visited Hoch in September 2007, they say they found her in poor health with severe bedsores that required surgery and severe dehydration, and living in poor conditions.

The Stifels and Wagner-Burkhart’s attorney, Alan Perry, had previously filed to have the Chandlers’ lawsuit dismissed, stating that Maine and the Chandlers have no jurisdiction in the case and that Hoch is competent, alive and well and didn’t ask for the Chandlers’ intervention.

Murphy denied Perry’s request to dissolve the Chandlers’ temporary restraining order Thursday and order a new one that would revoke the Chandlers’ power of attorney.

The court is concerned over the potential dissipation of Hoch’s funds, Murphy said, stressing that she was not making allegations against anyone.

The case is confusing and it is impossible to tell who is telling the truth and what Hoch’s mental state is, Murphy said.

She gave a deadline of a month and ordered financial disclosure of where Hoch’s money has gone, including what was spent on lawyers’ fees, investigators and her spa stay, so that the court can get a handle on the situation.

Murphy said she would have the financial information impounded from public view but attorneys would be able to review it.

It would be an enormous tragedy to have whatever Hoch has left to be spent on litigation in court, Murphy said, and leave her with no ability to take care of herself.

The Chandlers’ attorney, Thimi Mina, pointed out to Murphy that Richard Chandler had called Hoch nine times in January and has not been able to talk to her.

Murphy said the temporary restraining order is clear that the Stifels or Wagner-Burkart not interfere with or prevent any contacts by phone or in person between the Chandlers, including their representatives in Germany, and Hoch.