CALIFORNIA

California Skilled Nursing Facility Lawyer

If your loved one has experienced abuse or neglect at a skilled nursing facility, you have a right to hold the facility accountable and pursue substantial compensation for them. At Lanzone Morgan, LLP, our California skilled nursing facility lawyers have over 75 years of experience and a proven track record of holding nursing homes accountable.

Cases We Handle

Nursing Home Infections, Falls & Fractures, Unexplained Broken Bones, Bedsores/Pressure Sores, Sepsis, Medication Errors/Overmedication, Unauthorized Use of Restraints, Wheelchair Transfer Injuries, Elderly Wandering & Elopement, Elderly Sexual Assault & Abuse, Dehydration & Malnutrition, Poor Hygiene, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Amputation, Choking Deaths, Wrongful Death, Financial Elder Abuse, and more.

FREE CASE EVALUATION

We have extensive experience suing the following facilities: Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Memory Care Facilities, Adult Day Care Centers, and more.

75+

YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE

$200+

MILLION
WON

24/7

OUR TEAM'S
AVAILABLE

LEADING ELDER
ABUSE LAW FIRM

Home » Types of Elder Care Facilities » California Skilled Nursing Facility Abuse

Table of Contents:

Our California Skilled Nursing Facility Attorneys Have the Experience and Track Record You Can Trust
Common Signs of Abuse in California Skilled Nursing Facilities
Legal Rights of Skilled Nursing Facility Residents
Available Compensation for Skilled Nursing Facility Abuse
How To Prove Negligence in a Skilled Nursing Facility Claim
Who Can File a Claim Against a Skilled Nursing Facility in California?
Will the Nursing Facility Retaliate Against My Loved One If I Contact a California Skilled Nursing Facility Lawyer?
Let Our California Skilled Nursing Facility Attorneys Get the Justice Your Loved One Deserves

Skilled nursing facilities are residential facilities that provide continuous skilled nursing care, rehabilitative treatment, supportive services, and assistance with daily activities to residents on an extended basis. Skilled nursing facility abuse can result in lasting physical and emotional harm. Your loved one may experience severe emotional distress, permanent injuries, and increased dependence as a result.

As a leading elder abuse law firm in the U.S., we have seen firsthand the profound impact skilled nursing facility abuse can have on your loved one and your family. We are dedicated to advocating for elder rights with passion and precision. We handle cases throughout California. If your loved one has been abused or neglected in a skilled nursing facility, let us protect your loved one and hold the nursing home accountable. Call 1(888) 887-9777 or contact us online today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

Our California Skilled Nursing Facility Attorneys Have the Experience and Track Record You Can Trust

We are a California nursing home abuse law firm with experienced attorneys dedicated to representing elderly and dependent adults and their families. When you have Lanzone Morgan, LLP, on your side, you can expect compassionate advocacy with a hands-on approach to your case. We provide emotional support, counseling, and resources to help your family and loved one through this difficult time.

As proven trial attorneys, we have the resources, skills, and experience to take on large health care institutions and insurance companies. We have recovered over $200 million for elderly and dependent adults and their families. Our mission is to give our clients a voice and create safer facilities for all elderly and dependent adults through litigation and advocacy.

Meet Our Founding Attorneys

Our founders are members of the Multi-Million Advocates Forum, an exclusive association that only accepts attorneys who have won verdicts and settlements of $2 million or more.

Anthony Lanzone has 24 years of experience and is driven to fight for vulnerable people who cannot stand up for themselves. He is a member of the Nursing Home Litigation group of the American Association for Justice.

James Morgan is known for his uplifting presence, compassion, and ability to make everyone around him feel like the most important person in the room. He focused on nursing home abuse cases long before he co-founded Lanzone Morgan, LLP.

“My father was neglected in a skilled nursing home, causing him serious head and body trauma. Since that accident happened, I filed a complaint and escalated this issue, but I didn't receive any help or response. I came across Lanzone Morgan and reached out, but I didn't have too many expectations because I had been rejected by other attorneys previously. Very shortly after, they called me back and said they could be able to help this case. During the whole lawsuit process, their team worked closely with me and kept me updated on everything. This is a difficult journey for me, and I couldn't go through it without the help of Lanzone Morgan. If you are looking for someone who can help you out with elder abuse/neglect in skilled nursing home facilities, Lanzone Morgan, LLP is absolutely the first place to go”.

– Erica L.

Take Action Today

Get started on your path to justice with Lanzone Morgan, LLP. With 75+ years of experience, we have a proven track record of holding nursing homes accountable.

Common Signs of Abuse in California Skilled Nursing Facilities

Signs of abuse at a skilled nursing facility include the following:

Falls, especially multiple falls
Unexplained or frequent broken bones
Unexplained bruises
Infections
Sepsis
Dehydration
Weight loss
Bed sores
Poor hygiene
Sexual assault
Sexually transmitted infection
Overmedication
Wandering
Elopements
Death, especially if unexpected
Head injuries
Subdural hematomas
Poor hygiene
Personality changes
Depression
Anxiety
Your loved one tells you about abuse
Unexplained withdrawals from financial accounts
Rapid decline in health and alertness
A gut feeling that something isn’t right

The above is not an exhaustive list. If you notice concerning changes in your loved one, seek help. Our attorneys can guide you on how to identify and report abuse. Most importantly, we can help you protect your loved one and file a skilled nursing facility abuse lawsuit.

Legal Rights of Skilled Nursing Facility Residents

Skilled nursing facility residents have a right to receive quality care, be treated with dignity and respect, and make decisions concerning their care.

Abuse and neglect of elderly and dependent adults is a crime punishable by up to four years in prison and fines of up to $6,000. The penalties become more severe when the victim is older than 70 and suffers serious injuries or death from the abuse. Additionally, staff members at skilled nursing facilities are mandatory reporters of abuse. Anyone working in such a facility can face criminal charges for failing to report suspected abuse.

Criminal proceedings are an important aspect of justice, but they fall short of making abused adults and grieving families whole or holding skilled nursing facilities accountable for enabling abuse. Skilled nursing facilities often enable abuse through understaffing and other practices that prioritize profits over people. The Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act allows you to pursue financial damages through a skilled nursing facility lawsuit.

What To Do If You Suspect Your Loved One Is Experiencing Abuse

Report the abuse to the California Department of Public Health’s district office for the county where the abuse has occurred or call the Long-Term Care Ombudsman crisis line at 1(800) 231-4024. If you have reason to believe your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.

You do not have to have proof of abuse to report it. Even suspicion of abuse or neglect is just a cause for filing a report. We can help you file your report. Call our office at 1(888) 887-9777 immediately, and we will get right to work protecting your loved one. If we find that your loved one has been harmed by skilled nursing facility abuse, we will help you file a lawsuit to hold the nursing home accountable and recover the compensation your loved one deserves. Compensation in a nursing home abuse lawsuit is often substantial.

Available Compensation for Skilled Nursing Facility Abuse

Compensation in a claim against a skilled nursing facility may include economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Economic damages cover financial losses, while non-economic damages compensate for emotional losses. Courts may also award punitive damages to punish the facility and deter future harm.

Your economic and non-economic damages may include the following:

Medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Relocation costs
Loss of enjoyment of life
Emotional distress
Lost wages from time spent advocating for and transferring your loved one
Wrongful death damages if your loved one dies because of abuse

The amount you recover will vary based on the nature and severity of your loved one’s harm. California limits non-economic damages in skilled nursing facility cases. As of January 2023, the limit was $350,000 for cases not involving a death, with an increase of $40,000 annually. If the abuse occurred in 2024, the limit is $390,000. For abuse occurring after January 1, 2025, the limit is $430,000. There are no limits on economic or punitive damages, except that any award of punitive damages must be reasonable.

Compensation Our Attorneys Have Recovered

Our verdicts and settlements often involve substantial compensation, such as in the following examples below:

$3 million settlement for a dependent adult who developed an infected bed sore at a skilled nursing facility
$2.3428 million verdict for an elderly skilled nursing facility resident who suffered a broken arm and pelvis from multiple falls
$850,000 settlement for an elderly skilled nursing home resident who choked to death due to the facility’s failure to follow the care plan
$750,000 settlement for an elderly skilled nursing facility resident who developed a bed sore
$750,000 settlement for an elderly skilled nursing facility resident who choked to death after staff failed to initiate CPR

How To Prove Negligence in a Skilled Nursing Facility Claim

To prove negligence in a skilled nursing facility case, you must present evidence establishing the following four elements:

Duty of care. Your loved one was a patient in a skilled nursing facility.
Breach of duty. The skilled nursing facility failed to provide the appropriate professional standard of care. Preventing abuse likely violates this standard.
Damages. Your loved one suffered an injury they would not otherwise have suffered except for the breach of duty.
Actual and proximate cause. The breach of duty, and not something else, is the cause of the injury.

If any of these four elements is missing, you do not have a negligence claim against the skilled nursing facility. You will need strong evidence to prove each element, including your loved one’s complete medical record, expert witness testimony, test results, and eyewitness evidence. However, you do not have to gather this evidence yourself. When we take on your case, we do everything for you so you can focus on your loved one.

Who Can File a Claim Against a Skilled Nursing Facility in California?

Your loved one can file a claim, but skilled nursing facility residents often lack the capacity. In these cases, you may be able to file a claim on behalf of your loved one. State law allows you to file if you are one of the following:

Conservator
Power-of-attorney
Guardian ad litem
Interested family member

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman or another state agency can also pursue an action on your loved one’s behalf. If your loved one has died from skilled nursing facility abuse or neglect, a personal representative, heir, beneficiary, or interested family member may file.

Will the Nursing Facility Retaliate Against My Loved One If I Contact a California Skilled Nursing Facility Lawyer?

If at all possible, transfer your loved one to another facility. A transfer eliminates the possibility of retaliation. If you are not able to move your loved one, it is crucial to report the abuse to the Department of Health and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman as soon as possible so someone will be there to monitor your loved one.

You can also reduce the risk of retaliation by filing your complaint anonymously or sending the facility administrator a formal letter requesting an investigation. When talking to the ombudsman, ask them to investigate without identifying your loved one or revealing that the investigation is related to your loved one. The ombudsman must protect your loved one’s anonymity upon request.

One of the most effective ways to prevent retaliation is to involve an attorney. We have never had a nursing home retaliate against a client. When you hire an attorney, the facility knows the attorney is watching. Thus, it is more likely to use extra care to ensure staff treats your loved one with the respect and dignity they deserve.

“I have not personally experienced or seen one instance of retaliation against any of my clients who have been in a nursing home that we're currently suing. And if I had to guess, I think it's because they know that if anything happens to that person, we're gonna be right on top of it.”

– James Morgan, Founding Partner

Let Our California Skilled Nursing Facility Attorneys Get the Justice Your Loved One Deserves

Our experienced California skilled nursing facility lawyers are committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of society’s most vulnerable people. We will give your loved one a voice and support your family while we relentlessly fight to recover the maximum compensation available. Let us empower you and your loved one today by holding the negligent nursing facility accountable.