Online fundraising w/ Kickstarter: what happens when it goes bad?

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/50602-kickstarter-raises-600k-for-web-comic-but--ashes--is-threatened.html

Originally posted this past Friday in Publishers Weekly, this article compares two fundraising campaigns established by graphic novelists on kickstarter.com - an online fundraising hub that allows independent creators to raise money for their cause without a permanent deadline and to keep 100% of their funding raised.  The article pits Rich Burlow's successful "Order of the Stick" ever-growing $600k campaign against Alex de Campi's almost failed "Ashes" $32k campaign.

The success of Burlow's campaign seems to lie in that he had a pre-established fan base, as he's been publishing independently since 2003.  When he needed funds to re-publish he's already sold out comic strip, he directed his fans to kickstarter.com and established what became, all things considered, a wildly successful campaign.

On the other hand, Alex de Campi partnered with artist Jimmy Broxton and hoped to fund their entire publication of "Ashes" by raising monies on Kickstarter.  Unfortunately, a month after raising $32,455 for a project, the partnership of de Campi and Broxton split, citing "creative differences."  A new artistic team has been hired, but many fans pledged their money expecting the team of de Campi and Broxton.  It is unclear at this time if donated money will be refunded to those who ask.

I think this brings up a few interesting ideas.  I think Kickstarter is ripe with possibilities for independent artists and creative non-profits to raise money from supporters.  I think that having an internet hub for people to use for fundraising purposes could increase the amount of successful creative projects actually produced, ergo allowing artists/novelists/farmers/whoever to gain more publicity.  However, I'm curious as to the stewardship of these funds as they're raised.  Who is holding people - especially the young novelist looking to independently publish his book - accountable?