Nursing home owes $28 million in punitive damages

Posted on May 14th, 2010 No Comments

Colonial Healthcare of Auburn, Calif., and its parent company, Horizon West of Rocklin, Calif., were found guilty Wednesday of elder abuse in the 2005 death of a 79-year-old woman. The jury leveled $28 million in punitive damages against the nursing home corporation in a case brought by the woman’s daughter.

According to reports, the woman was admitted to the nursing home with full mobility but mild dementia. She fell and broke her hip, reports say, and seven months later she died from an infected bedsore. Her daughter’s lawyer accused the nursing home of putting corporate gain ahead of good resident care. The nursing home was also accused of being understaffed and keeping poor medical documentation. The company denied the charges of nursing home abuse and argued that the woman was never neglected but had one-on-one care.

Illinois Legislators Look to Curb Nursing Home Abuse

Posted on November 9th, 2009 1 Comment

Following last week’s expose by the Chicago Tribune, Illinois legislators are working to find ways to curb the epidemic of nursing home abuse in the state. If a senior citizen in your family is the victim of neglect, the nursing home abuse lawyers of Levinson Axelrod can help you fight to restore their dignity.

State senators believe that the nursing homes could be perpetrating civil rights abuses, because nursing homes caring for black patients provide a lower level of care than those caring for white patients. They hope to introduce legislation to correct the problem.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of eldercare abuse, contact the New Jersey nursing home abuse lawyers of Levinson Axelrod today by calling 800-346-5529 today.