A Otero County District Court jury has awarded a $3.2 million verdict against Pioneer Healthcare for the family of Henry Frazier who suffered and died from 16-facility acquired infections and what experts called 34 “appalling” injuries, including a stage 4 gaping bedsore that spread across his buttocks and into his scrotum, the Denver Post reported. An expert witness hired by the plaintiffs said that her review of the nursing home charts found that “the care provided to Mr. Frazier fell far below the standard of nursing care and wound care.”

Even though Stage 4 bedsores are considered by national safety panels to be extreme events, inline with amputation of the wrong limb or patients electrocution, the state’s review of the Frazier case led to no penalties, citations, or consequences. More Jury Awards $3.2 Million in Colorado Nursing Home Death

According to a whistleblower lawsuit transferred to U.S. District Court in St. Louis last week, RehabCare Group Inc paid a Missouri nursing home some $10 million in kickbacks for access to Medicaid and Medicare residents for physical therapy. The U.S. Department of Justice joined the lawsuit last year.

Health Systems Inc., which owns the nursing home, and its affiliate Rehab Systems were also named as defendants in the lawsuit. According to government investigators, RehabCare formed an illegal business arrangement with Health Systems and Rehab Systems which included a one-time payment of more than a half million dollars, as well as continuous payments of 30 percent of therapy services. For this, the lawsuit claims, RehabCare was given a five-year therapy service contract for nursing home residents. More RehabCare Accused of Nursing Home Kickback Scheme

A La Junta, Colorado jury has awarded the widow of 88-year-old Henry Frazier $3.2 million against a Rocky Ford nursing home for allegations concerning complications from a baseball-sized bedsore that led to his death.

The lawsuit was filed against Pioneer Healthcare Center, owned by Grace Health Care. It alleged that the facility hid Frazier’s condition from the family, and did not care for the wound properly. More $3.2 Million Awarded to Family of Nursing Home Resident Who Died from Bedsores

The national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP has filed a nursing home negligence lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in Nassau County on behalf of a plaintiff who was injured while residing at Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Long Beach, New York.

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff was a resident of the nursing home from August 21, 2008 to August 22, 2010. On March 24, 2010, May 3, 2010, and August 22, 2010 the plaintiff suffered falls which allegedly resulted in severe and permanent personal injuries. More Negligence Lawsuit Filed Against Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

New York’s Attorney General announced settlement terms this week with a former executive at two nursing homes operating in the state on charges she misappropriated funds to her, her family’s, and friend’s financial gain.

Ruby Weston will pay $871,000 as part of the settlement terms, according to a report at LegalNewsline.com on a statement from AG Eric Schneiderman. Weston was the former administrator at Marcus Garvey Nursing Home and Ruby Weston Manor and was accused of breaking her “fiduciary responsibilities” to both organizations. Weston took an “excessive” salary during her time at the helm of Marcus Garvey Nursing Home – reaching a pinnacle of $500,000 in a single year – and also awarded nursing home contracts to her son, who operated a computer consulting firm, without accepting bids from others. She set her own salary.

Furthering her ability to defraud Marcus Garvey Nursing Home, to which she must repay $821,000 as part of the settlement, Weston appointed a personal friend to serve as the head of the board of directors of both not-for-profit corporations. More New York settles with former nursing home exec over excessive pay

The family of William A. Kahle, 47 has filed a lawsuit in Cook County, Illinois, against the owners of the Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center over allegations the facility has failed to stop resident on resident abuse.

According to the lawsuit, Kahle was allegedly burned by another resident, and the facility did not report the incident to the Department of Public Health. When Kahle’s father filed a complaint, and investigation by the Department found that “between May and October a 26-year-old male who suffers from bipolar disorder and ADHD, sexually physically or mentally abused at least 23 other residents.” The attorney said that investigators were told by residents that the man sexually assaulted female and male residents, urinated on someone, exposed himself, used narcotics, and threatened serious physical harm to any resident that would report him. More Illinois Nursing Home Lawsuit Filed to Stop Resident Abuse by other Residents

The family of Anibal Calderon has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Cook County, Illinois against Oak Park Health Care Center after another resident of the facility beat Calderon to death.

According to the lawsuit, a facility resident who had a violent criminal background beat 80-year old Calderon. Calderon, who suffered from dementia, was later found unconscious, and transferred to Rush Oak Park Hospital, then to Rush University Medical Center, and died of blunt head trauma and brain injuries two days later. More Oak Park Nursing Home Hit with Wrongful Death Lawsuit

James Thurman of Sumer, Tennessee has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of his brother Cecil Roy Thurman alleging neglect and accusing the Westmoreland Care & Rehabilitation Center of medical malpractice. The lawsuit also names seven other entities, which are responsible for the ownership and management of the facility.

According to the lawsuit, Cecil Thurman was 65 and suffered memory problems, anxiety, dementia, emphysema, seizure disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. Thurman needed help with feeding and was dependant on a wheelchair for mobility. The lawsuit claims that Thurman suffered abuse, neglect, and infection, violations of dignity, as well as mental anguish and humiliation. More Westmoreland Nursing Home Sued over Neglect

Linda Wood and Terri Dancy, daughters of 77-year-old Aubrey Giles, have filed a negligence lawsuit in St. Clair County Court, Illinois, against Midwest Rehabilitation and Respiratory Center of Belleville and Senior Healthcare Management over the death of their father.

According to the lawsuit, Aubrey Giles had wondered away from the nursing home on two separate occasions before going missing on January 14, 2012. Giles, who suffered from heart disease and dementia, was found dead January 16, partly submerged in a creek about a block away from the nursing home. More Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Illinois

Federal Judge Ellen Huvelle has rejected an effort by the District of Columbia to have a class action lawsuit brought by nearly 3,000 nursing home residents thrown out.

Judge Huvelle rejected the District’s claims that it complied with the American with Disabilities Act by providing nursing home residents, who wanted to live in the community, with services. According to the Washington Post, the ADA requires both state and local governments to provide people with disabilities with services in as integrated a setting as possible. More D.C. Nursing Home Class Action Lawsuit Will Go Forward