The family of a nursing home resident who sustained injuries from multiple falls, repeated hospitalizations, dehydration, and other preventable health complications while residing at a Los Angeles County facility turned to Lanzone Morgan, LLP, for legal representation. The woman ultimately died from her injuries, and our Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyers sought wrongful death compensation for her loved ones. The judge presiding over the case found 578 violations of the California Nursing Home Resident’s Bill of Rights and awarded a nursing home fall verdict exceeding $1.9 million.
The Victim’s Family Trusted the Facility With Their Loved One’s Care
Families often turn to nursing homes when a loved one develops medical needs that can no longer be managed safely at home. Conditions such as dementia and mobility limitations often require around-the-clock supervision and skilled care that loved ones are unable to provide.
That was the situation in this case. Following a dementia diagnosis, the resident’s needs increased, and her daughter made the difficult decision to entrust her care to a Los Angeles County nursing home. Like so many other families in her position, she placed tremendous trust in the facility and its staff, expecting them to protect her from foreseeable harm.
“And one of the main defenses in all of our cases is, whatever happened to this person wasn't because of neglect. What happened to this person was because of their underlying disease processes and their age. This was just inevitable. That's not true…People aren't supposed to fall down and hit their heads. Especially when the family's trying to do the right thing by entrusting the care and paying thousands of dollars so that this doesn't happen, given the family may not have the expertise to take care of their loved ones and keep them safe themselves.”
A Pattern of Falls, Hospitalizations, and Unmet Needs
The resident in this case required eight hospitalizations over an approximately 11-month period while living in a Los Angeles County nursing home. The visits involved recurring issues, including falls, signs of internal bleeding, malnutrition, and dehydration. A nursing care expert who reviewed the resident’s records concluded that the facility did not adequately meet her needs.
Repeated Nursing Home Falls and Lack of Individualized Treatment
Most concerning was the resident’s repeated falls. In June 2022, when the resident fell and suffered a brain bleed, the facility did not act immediately to prevent further harm. The resident then fell for the eighth time in early September of that year, breaking her back. It was not until after this later incident that the facility finally ordered a floor mat and a bed alarm for the resident’s room.
The facility also did not immediately modify the resident’s care plan or notify her physician or family members of changes in her medical condition following her earlier nursing home fall injuries. These failures occurred because the facility did not provide individualized treatment, thereby violating the resident’s basic rights.
The resident’s final fall at the facility resulted in another brain bleed, leaving her unable to communicate for the remaining months of her life. She was discharged from the nursing home in June 2023 and died at home in July of that year.
$1.9 Million Verdict for Ongoing Care Failures
Following a bench trial, the judge found 578 separate violations of the Nursing Home Resident’s Bill of Rights and ruled that the facility’s conduct constituted reckless negligence. Our firm secured a fall injury verdict exceeding $1.9 million for the resident’s family which is one of the largest Nursing Home Resident’s Bill of Rights verdicts in California history.
What This Nursing Home Fall Verdict Means for Residents’ Rights
This case is about more than one resident or one facility. It’s part of our broader commitment to fighting nursing home abuse. This verdict sends a clear message that nursing homes cannot get away with serious care failures. By pursuing cases like this, we aim to improve accountability within the long-term care industry and create safer environments for elderly Californians.
If you believe a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a California nursing home, Lanzone Morgan, LLP, is here to help. Our team has recovered over $250 million in compensation for elder abuse victims and their loved ones across the state of California, and we’re ready to put that track record to work for your family.
Contact us online or call 888-887-9777 for a free consultation about your rights and options.