$940K for Elderly Wrongful Death due to Residential Care Negligence

Our client, a 62-year-old dementia patient, became a resident of a California senior living center that advertised itself as a specialized dementia care facility. This home, which claimed expertise in caring for individuals with memory impairment, admitted our client knowing that they qualified as a “dependent adult” under Welfare & Institutions Code § 15610.23. With significant physical and mental limitations, our client required close supervision. Especially, due to their known propensity to wander and their desire to go outside. They were placed on a locked dementia care floor and ensured constant monitoring. Unfortunately, this tragic case highlights a failure of those promises that now forms the basis of a nursing home lawsuit.

The facility assured our client’s family that security measures were in place to prevent them from leaving. This included a wristband to alert staff of any exit movements. Despite these assurances, our client managed to leave the facility shortly after admission and had to be located and returned by the police. The family, relieved at the time that they had not been harmed, insisted on the need for increased care and vigilance.

Shockingly, just a few weeks later, the facility allowed our client to wander off again. Even worse, the staff failed to notify the family or the authorities about their disappearance. Tragically, after more than 40 days, search efforts led to the devastating discovery of their remains. Investigators concluded that mountain lions had attacked and killed our client, leaving their body in pieces and their head decapitated.

Resolution of the Case

This heartbreaking result underscores the gross negligence of the facility. By failing to exercise ordinary care and maintain a safe environment, they breached their duty to protect a vulnerable resident, ultimately causing our client’s wrongful death.

Our legal team obtained a $940,000 settlement for the family for this unfortunate loss following a nursing home lawsuit.