Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Abuse or Neglect

Seven-Figure Settlement for Dementia Patient's Fall Down Laundry Chute

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of a 77-year-old nursing home resident with significant Alzheimer's symptoms. Nursing home staff failed to observe him when he left his bed, wandered down the hall, gained admission to a supply closet, and fell three stories through a laundry chute. Despite excruciating pain, he survived for another six months after enduring massive trauma that included multiple fractures and internal injuries. Though the nursing home sought to enforce a binding arbitration clause, Attorneys Sachs and Galvin found the clause and the case was resolved.

Six-Figure Settlement for Failure to Prevent Nursing Home Resident's Death from Numerous Falls

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of an elderly dementia patient whose behavioral disturbances included delusions, glaucoma resulting in impaired vision, diabetes mellitus, deep venous thrombosis, and depression. She suffered multiple falls because she was not provided the necessary fall precautions and supervision required to keep her safe. The last fall resulted in a fractured hip, which led directly to her death.

Six-Figure Settlement for Death of Nursing Home Resident from Failure to Administer Prescribed Diuretic

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of an elderly woman who was admitted to a nursing home strictly for rehabilitation; the goal was for her to return home after her rehabilitation was completed. In complete disregard for her health and well-being, the nursing home failed to provide the necesary level of nursing care, including failing to give her the diuretic she had been taking for 20 years. The failure to properly monitor her and administer necessary medications caused her to suffer a significant decline in health that resulted in her death.

Six-Figure Settlement for Death of Over-Medicated Resident

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of an 80-year-old assisted living resident who was prescibed potent anti-psychotics by a doctor who never examined her. After exhibiting slight agitation, the facility contacted a doctor who prescibed first Seroquel and then Ativan for the resident without ever examining her. Attorneys Sachs and Galving argued that the combination of medications amounted to chemical restraints that directly led to the resident's fall, hip fracture, and eventual death.

Six-Figure Settlement for 98-Year-Old Dropped from Hoyer Lift at Nationwide Nursing Home Chain

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin successfully represented the estate of a 98-year-old nursing home resident who sustained a hip fracture and head injury when she was dropped during a transfer using a Hoyer lift. Though staff knew that the resident required two employees to handle her transfer, an employee tried to move her without seeking the assistance of a second staffer. The injuries she suffered from the fall caused her health to decline until her death six months later. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin argued that the national nursing home chain had put profits over patients and left the facility understaffed, forcing employees to attempt resident care tasks in an unsafe manner.

Six-Figure Settlement for 97-Year-Old's Fractured Pelvis

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of an assisted living resident who fell twice and suffered a pelvic fracture. Her injury completely restricted her ability to move about freely and caused pain throughout the remaining 15 months of her life. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin were able to secure a six-figure settlement following an all-day mediation with the national nursing assisted living facility's counsel.

Six-Figure Settlement for Failure to Treat 90-Year-Old's Infection

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of a 90-year-old nursing home resident who died after an untreated infection worsened. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin argued that the nursing home's failure to keep a sterile environment directly led to the infection, and in addition to the lack of sterility, staff failed to recognize the infection. The delay in treatment allowed the infection to worsen and eventually caused the woman's death.

Six-Figure Settlement Against Hospital for Pressure Ulcer

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the family of a 64-year-old man who developed a Stage IV decubitus ulcer while hospitalized following cardiac surgery. After hospital nurses failed to properly turn and reposition the patient, he developed the worst kind of pressure sore, which resulted in terrible pain.

Six-Figure Settlement for the Family of Assisted Living Resident

Chad Galvin obtained a six-figure settlement for the family of an 82-year-old assisted living facility resident. The woman fell three times within three months, and the last fall resulted in a fractured hip. Attorney Galvin argued that the assisted living facility should not have accepted the woman because she needed more care than was offered. After her third fall, she was unable to notify staff and remained on the floor with a fractured hip for an extended period of time. Her fractured hip eventually led to her death.

Six-Figure Settlement for the Family of Nursing Home Resident

Managing partner Robert Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the family of an 87-year-old nursing home resident who fractured his hip. He was transferred to a hospital where the emergency room physician failed to properly read his X-ray. The physician failed to diagnose the seriousness of the man’s injury and returned him to the nursing home without adequate treatment. At the nursing home, he exhibited an increased respiratory rate, increased heart rate and decreased alertness – all of which are significant symptoms of internal bleeding. Staff at the nursing home failed to notice his symptoms until he was found unresponsive. He was transferred to another hospital where he soon died. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

Six-Figure Arbitration Award in Nursing Home Neglect Suit

Chad Galvin represented the estate of a 74-year-old man who suffered neglect in a nursing home. He required extensive assistance with daily living activities, including getting into and out of bed, turning and positioning to relieve pressure, hygiene, toileting and feeding. Because of his inability to complete daily activities without assistance, he was at considerable risk for skin breakdown or pressure sores. Staff at his nursing home, however, failed to provide any protective measures against skin breakdown. As a result, the man developed several pressure sores, including one which continued to deteriorate and become infected with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, and gangrene. He eventually had to have his leg amputated. Attorney Galvin represented the man’s son, and arguing that the nursing home’s neglect led to pain, suffering and amputation, he was able to secure a significant six-figure award.

Six-Figure Settlement for Family of Fall Victim

Managing partner Robert Sachs, Chad Galvin and Mike McGuckin represented the estate of an 82-year-old man who was admitted to a hospital with complaints of pain, confusion and difficulty walking. The hospital poorly evaluated the man and failed to realize the high risk he presented. Unsupervised, he was allowed to fall and suffer serious and painful injuries that led to his death. His autopsy found blunt force chest trauma that included seven fractured ribs. Attorneys Sachs, Galvin and McGuckin were able to secure a significant confidential settlement for the man’s family.

Six-Figure Settlement for Hospital Fall

Managing partner Robert Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of an 86-year-old woman who fell from her wheelchair in a hospital. After being admitted to the hospital for life-saving surgery, she was left to wait in a chair for eleven hours. Her chair was not equipped with a chair alarm to alert staff when she attempted to walk without assistance. After falling and fracturing her hip, her initial surgery was put off until her hip healed. She eventually died waiting for her intended surgery, and Attorneys Sachs and Galvin were able to secure a six-figure settlement for her family.

Six-Figure Settlement for Severe Nursing Home Neglect

Managing partner Robert Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of a 74-year-old woman who was chronically ill with end-stage lung cancer. During her ten months at a nursing home, she suffered severe pressure sores, dehydration, poor nutritional management, infection, poorly managed pain, poor hygiene, contractures and continual abuses to her well-being and dignity. She finally died as a result of sepsis, acute renal failure and cancer. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin were able to secure a confidential settlement for her family.

Six-Figure Settlement for Nursing Home Neglect

Managing Robert Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of a woman who died in a nursing home as a result of neglect and abuse. She was dropped by staff who tried to move her from a bed to a chair without assistance, ignoring directives that she be moved by two people at all times. After she was dropped, staff failed to request a post-fall medical evaluation for any injuries. She was promptly placed back in bed – but with broken thigh bones in both legs. Her cries of pain and pleas for help were ignored for nine hours. She was finally sent to a hospital where her broken legs were diagnosed. Hospital staff sent her back to the nursing home with clear instructions for her care, which were ignored by nursing home staff. Without ever receiving pain medication or special attention, she died the next morning as a result of complications from her injuries. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin argued that the nursing home was understaffed and poorly trained. Specific terms of the settlement are confidential.

Shrager, Spivey & Sachs

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