$450,000 Settlement for Family of Neglected Nursing Home Resident
- BLITZ LAW GROUP
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
Blitz Law Group, LLP is proud to announce a $450,000 settlement on behalf of the Estate of our client, a beloved mother and grandmother who suffered unimaginable pain and loss of dignity due to nursing home neglect at a nursing home facility in Manhattan.
The Incident
In July 2017, our 78-year-old client, a vibrant and independent woman, suffered a stroke and was admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital. Her doctors recommended short-term rehabilitation, and after
careful research, her daughter, serving as our client’s health care proxy, selected the nursing home for what was expected to be a temporary stay to aid her recovery.
When our client was admitted to the nursing home she had no pressure wounds and was in stable condition. She required full assistance for mobility and personal care, yet was alert, communicative, and expected to regain her strength. Tragically, within months of her admission, she developed horrific pressure ulcers, the result of the home’s systemic neglect and falsified care records.
Negligent Care and Falsified Records
The nursing home’s staff were required to turn and reposition our client every two hours to prevent bed sores. However, facility records and Medicare documentation revealed repeated failures to provide basic care, including:
No evidence of turning or positioning in multiple weeks of MDS reports;
Weeks without bathing or hygiene assistance;
Falsified records showing our client was “turned” while she was actually offsite at medical appointments.
Four months after admission, nurses noted the first signs of a sacral wound. Within days, the wound was recorded as three Stage 2 pressure sores that had merged into one. Despite this alarming development, the nursing home failed to provide timely wound care or medical intervention.
Over the following months, our client’s wounds worsened dramatically. She developed osteomyelitis and severe sepsis due to the infected wound, yet staff continued falsifying records showing that she had been turned regularly.
Final Decline and Death
In March 2018, our client was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition. Doctors documented a massive 16cm x 14cm Stage 4 ulcer, exposing muscle and bone and infested with multiple bacteria, including E. coli and Klebsiella. Despite multiple debridement surgeries and intravenous antibiotics, our client’s infection proved overwhelming.
She developed septic shock and organ failure, and after discussions with her family, was transferred to hospice. Our client passed away at Calvary Hospital—only seven months after being admitted to the nursing home for short-term rehabilitation.
The Lawsuit and Resolution
The Estate of our client, represented by her daughter, brought suit in Supreme Court, New York County, alleging negligence, violations of public health law, and wrongful death against the nursing home.
Extensive discovery revealed fraudulent medical documentation, systemic understaffing, and egregious neglect. Depositions of the home’s nurses and administrators confirmed the facility’s failure to provide even the most basic preventive care and the falsification of patient charts.
Following years of litigation and preparation for trial, Blitz Law Group secured a $450,000 settlement for the Estate, compensating our client’s family for her pain and suffering, loss of dignity, and wrongful death, as well as the emotional toll on her children who witnessed her decline.
A Legacy of Advocacy
This settlement stands as a powerful reminder of Blitz Law Group’s commitment to seeking justice for elderly and vulnerable victims of institutional neglect. Our client’s case highlights the devastating consequences of nursing home mismanagement and falsified medical records, and underscores the firm’s dedication to holding negligent care providers accountable.
Through the tireless efforts of our litigation team, our client’s family achieved not only a measure of justice but also helped shine a light on the broader issue of elder neglect in New York’s long-term care facilities.
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Neglect
Seeing a loved one suffer in a place meant for their recovery is heartbreaking and infuriating. If you notice unexplained bruising, foul odors, sudden weight loss, or—most critically—the development of pressure ulcers (bedsores), you must act immediately. Documentation is your most powerful tool. Start by taking dated photographs of any visible wounds and keep a detailed log of your interactions with staff. If your concerns are being dismissed by the facility’s administration, do not wait for the situation to escalate; report the neglect to the New York State Department of Health and consider moving your loved one to a different facility to ensure their immediate safety.
How Blitz Law Group Holds Facilities Accountable
At Blitz Law Group, we know that nursing homes often prioritize profits over patient safety, frequently resulting in systemic understaffing and "paper care"—where charts are filled out to show treatment that never actually happened. Our legal team is experienced in uncovering these discrepancies. We don't just look at the bedside charts; we cross-reference them with staffing logs, medication records, and Medicare data to expose the truth.
In this $450,000 settlement case, it was our ability to prove falsified records—showing a patient was "turned" while she wasn't even in the building—that broke the defense. If your family has been betrayed by a care facility, we are here to provide the aggressive advocacy needed to secure justice for your loved one’s pain and loss of dignity.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
If you suspect a nursing home is neglecting your parent or spouse, time is of the essence. Our firm is dedicated to protecting New York’s most vulnerable citizens and holding negligent institutions responsible for their actions.
Phone: (212) 871-1300
Website: blitzlawgroup.com
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