Nursing homes often have arbitration agreements preventing lawsuits. However, some family members still manage to sue nursing homes for the wrongful deaths of their loved ones. In one such case, the nursing home settled at the last minute to avoid a trial as the Augusta Chronicle reports.
An Augusta, Georgia nursing home that had gone into bankruptcy and was recently purchased this past May narrowly avoided trial by entering into a settlement late Sunday.
The lawsuit has been ongoing since it was filed in 2013 by Norma Manning, wife of the late Patrick Manning. The victim suffered a stroke in 2011 that left him able to move and communicate. Still, rehabilitation was required, so he entered into the 213 bed Amara Health Care.
His health deteriorated to the point that by five months later, he could no longer walk to the bathroom. Within 16 months, Manning was dead.
His wife blamed the poor care he received for his demise. At the time of his death, he had pressure sores that had become gangrenous, was dehydrated and malnourished, and had a condition called contraction. The condition occurs when a limb remains clutched close to the person’s body.
This is not the first lawsuit against the facility. Amara has been sued several times over the past 10 years regarding the care of its patients. It has a below-average rating in the nursing home inspection system of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
The terms of the settlement are private and include a clause stating there is no admission of liability.
If you believe that a loved one has been abused or neglected while in the care of a nursing facility, contact the law offices of Schenk Smith. Our dedicated attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today.
