Inadequate staffing

October 1, 2026

$165,000 Settlement in Understaffing at Nursing Home

Francis Stevens, 58, was admitted to Garden Spring Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. At the time of his admission, he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, heart failure and venous insufficiency.

Stevens was also at high risk for pressure ulcers. Several months after his admission, he developed foot wounds and experienced weight loss. Abnormal lab results and a change in his condition prompted his transfer to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with sepsis and chronic lower extremity wounds.

Stevens was discharged from the hospital with instructions for daily wound care and skin breakdown prevention. However, Stevens was hospitalized several more times over the next five months, including for treatment of multiple pressure sores on his heel, sacrum and knees.

September 29, 2026

$414,600 Settlement in Failure to Implement Fall Prevention Measures at Nursing Home

by Robert Kreisman

William Dyer was admitted to Cliveden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. At the time of his admission, he suffered from epilepsy, neuropathy and left foot drops among other medical issues.

The following month, Dyer had an unwitnessed fall and fractured his left femur. As a result, he required surgery.

Dyer sued Cliveden Operating LLC, and the owner and operator, Bedrock Care, alleging they chose not to provide sufficient monitoring and implement fall prevention measures.

February 12, 2026

$400,000 Settlement in Inadequate Nursing Home Lawsuit

by Robert Kreisman

Jay Hawthorne, who suffered from quadriplegia and other significant health issues, was admitted to Fox Subacute at Warrington.

He developed a rash on his inner thighs and scrotum, constipation and a urinary tract infection.

When his bowel distention increased, he was sent to a nearby hospital. However, he began vomiting and died on the way to the facility. Hawthorne was survived by his parents. The Hawthorne estate sued Fox Nursing Home Corp., alleging wrongful death and survival.

November 20, 2025

$3 Million Jury Verdict in Failure to Administer Medications at Rehab Center

by Robert Kreisman

Barbara Tucker, 68, suffered a broken ankle and kneecap in a fall at a rehabilitation facility. After she was hospitalized, she entered Lynchburg Care Center where she suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism 11 days later. She was survived by her four adult children.

The lawsuit against the care center facility brought by the family alleged that it chose not to administer Lovenox to Tucker, despite an order for the drug included in her hospital records.

In addition, the Tucker family alleged that the defendant rehab center failed to provide Tucker with her other medications during the first few days of her admission and never alerted her medical providers that she was not receiving her medicine.

November 18, 2025

$150,000 Settlement for Inadequate Fall Prevention Measures Resulting in Death of Nursing Home Resident

by Robert Kreisman

Jean Vicoli, 93, was admitted to Attleboro Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for rehabilitation following her fall, which resulted in a fractured femur and other injuries. A fall prevention care plan allegedly was put in place, including encouragement to call for assistance before moving about by walking.

The staff later noted that she was confused and had gait problems. She also had developed a sacral pressure sore.

Within a month of her admission, she fell twice. She suffered a traumatic head injury and fractured her arm. Vicoli’s pain increased, and her health continued to decline. She later died and was survived by her two children.

July 1, 2025

$4 Million Jury Verdict in Nursing Home Wandering Lawsuit

by Robert Kreisman

Helen Ende was 89 years old and suffered from dementia. While she was a resident at Parkside Manor, she was allowed, unnoticed, to wander off the premises and remain outside in the cold for almost seven hours before the nursing home staff realized she was missing. She froze to death. Ende is survived by her son.

Ende’s son, on behalf of her estate, sued Parkside Manor’s parent company, Encor Wisconsin LLC, alleging that its manager and staff disregarded Ende’s safety rights.

The Ende estate maintained that Encor’s policy required staff members to account for all residents after an alarm sounds. But on the night of Ende’s death, the three workers on duty chose not to follow this policy. The estate also alleged that one worker left the nursing home facility for multiple hours during his shift.

February 4, 2025

$90,000 Settlement for Failure to Provide Proper Skin Care in Nursing Home Lawsuit

by Robert Kreisman

Barbara Ouimette was admitted to Rosewood Care Center in St. Charles, Ill. At the time, she was at high risk of skin breakdown. She also required assistance with activities of daily living.

Over the next several years, she experienced significant weight loss and developed a right buttock wound and pressure sores on her coccyx and sacrum. Although she underwent wound care, she passed away.

Ouimette’s estate sued the facility’s owner and operator, alleging that they chose not to assess her skin condition, provide proper nutrition and ensure proper staffing at the nursing home facility where she was living.

December 5, 2023

$500,000 Settlement in Nursing Home’s Failure to Follow Physician’s Orders

by Robert Kreisman

Ms. Doe was transferred to Roe Nursing Home after suffering fractures from falls. Her doctor’s orders instructed nurses at the nursing home to regularly assess the skin around Ms. Doe’s cast to detect skin breakdown, swelling and changes in color. The nursing home nurses were also instructed to cleanse and apply treatment to Ms. Doe’s leg ulcer each day.

Within two weeks, Ms. Doe was returned to the hospital where she was diagnosed as having a gangrenous wound and maggots crawling out of her cast. Unfortunately, Ms. Doe required an amputation of her right leg.

Ms. Doe sued the nursing home alleging that it had chosen not to comply with her physician’s orders and to provide the needed wound care. The defendant nursing home countered that Ms. Doe’s extreme obesity and uncontrolled diabetes made amputation likely even in the absence of the nursing home’s wrongdoing.

July 11, 2023

$30.9 Million Including $25 Million in Punitive Damages in Jury Verdict in Failure to Prevent, Treat Pressure Sores

by Robert Kreisman

Sam Rios Jr., 86, was admitted to Pine Creek Care Center for a rehabilitation stay after suffering a fractured hip. Over the next two weeks, he developed two pressure sores. One of the pressure sores was diagnosed as being Stage IV. Rios died almost a year later and suffered pain and debilitation until his passing.

Rios’ successor in interest and his children sued Daisy Holdings LLC, Pine Creek’s parent company, and other corporate entities, alleging elder abuse, under-staffing, custodial negligence, constructive fraud, violation of patient rights, wrongful death and alter ego liability.

The lawsuit alleged that these defendants had placed profits over patient care, chose not to prevent Rios from developing the pressure sores and failed to properly care for Rios once the pressure sores were identified.

May 23, 2023

$325,000 Settlement in Wrongful Death of Nursing Home Resident Whose Condition Deteriorated After Fall

by Robert Kreisman

Ms. Doe, 93, suffered from dementia and lived at the Roe Care Center. Her condition necessitated that she receive extensive assistance with transfers to and from her recliner, including when she needed to use the bathroom.

When Ms. Doe called for assistance, two aides allegedly responded and used the recliner to raise her to a standing position. The aide then allegedly assisted Ms. Doe to the bathroom and brought her back to the recliner. She was left in a standing position. The aide did not assist Ms. Doe in getting back into her chair.

As a result, Ms. Doe fell and fractured her left leg, which required surgery. The procedure left Ms. Doe bedridden and completely immobile, which in turn led to the development of pressure sores.