Awards & Settlements

A nursing home employee attempted to move a 98 year-old nursing home resident without assistance using a mechanical lift. The resident was supposed to be assisted by two employees whenever she was moved. Further, the one employee who did attempt to move the resident without assistance also failed to properly use the mechanical lift. The resident suffered a fractured hip and head injury as a result of the fall. She lived another 6 months, and her condition deteriorated as a result of her injuries. She soon thereafter passed away due to her injuries. The case was contested by the defendants. We and our litigation partners obtained a six-figure settlement. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

We and our litigation colleagues represented the family of a 64 year old man who was hospitalized for a serious heart condition. After the hospital performed life-saving heart surgery, the nursing department of the hospital failed to properly turn and reposition the man every 2 hours while he laid in bed during recovery from surgery. He completely relied upon the nursing department to turn and reposition him to relieve pressure off of his sacral area. The patient developed a Stage IV pressure sore on his sacral area which caused terrible pain. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

A 62 year old man had diabetes and significant kidney disease. He arrived at the defendant hospital due to dizziness from his low blood sugar. He was taking certain known medications for his kidney disease. When he arrived at the hospital, the hospital staff used improper testing methods to determine his sugar levels and therefore improperly administered insulin causing him to fall into a diabetic coma. He never woke up and died soon thereafter due to the hospital’s improper testing methods and improper administration of the wrong medication. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

We and our litigation partners represented the wife and estate of a 74 year old man, who was very ill and had a limited life-expectancy. The resident suffered several falls in a short time period. The last fall caused fatal head injuries. The evidence demonstrated that the fall was preventable and should not have occurred. The nursing home failed to provide all of the necessary safety measures to prevent the fall and subsequent head injury. The nursing home’s chart was confusing and inconsistent. Further, the nursing home failed to properly monitor the family’s loved one after the fall which resulted in further injury and death. The family received a significant six-figure settlement. The terms are confidential.

We and our litigation partners represented the 3 adult children of an 82 year old woman, who was supposed to be in the nursing home for short-term rehabilitation. Unfortunately, she fell 6 times in the nursing home in only 3 months, and the last fall caused her death. Because of the nursing home’s failure to provide proper fall precautions, the otherwise healthy 82 year old woman never returned home to be with her family. During this admission, the resident also suffered malnutrition and dehydration. The last fatal fall caused a significant hip fracture, which resulted in our client’s quick decline and death. At the family’s request, this matter was resolved very early in the litigation in order to avoid the stress of a long battle with the nursing home. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

The wrongful death lawyers at LH&P and our litigation team represented the family of an 87 year old man whose family was forced to place him in a nursing home for his own safety. Only after an admission to a hospital was it discovered that their loved one suffered numerous serious pressure sores, dehydration, malnutrition, renal failure, and sepsis (infection) secondary to the pressure sores. The pressure sores, dehydration, malnutrition, infection, and sepsis were the result of severe neglect, and were the cause of his injuries, pain/suffering and death. The nursing home was issued deficiencies by the Department of Health after it conducted a survey due a complaint filed by the family regarding the lack of care. The nursing home was cited for violation of numerous State and Federal Nursing Home Regulations in the areas of the “Exercise of Rights,” “Pressure Sores,” “Mental and Psychosocial Functioning,” and “Accidents.” The nursing home vigorously disputed the case. The case proceeded to arbitration and the family was awarded a significant financial award. The terms are confidential.