November 29, 2010 – Hopkins County, KY – The family of a deceased victim of nursing home neglect recently received a large award from a jury in connection with their wrongful death claim against the involved facility. Kentucky.com reports that a jury awarded a family in Kentucky $42.75 million, which included punitive damages, after the death of Joseph Clint Offutt, 92. Offutt was a patient at Harborside in Madisonville for 9 days before succumbing to severe dehydration. He was moved to a local hospital and died 2 days later, on April 5, 2008. Offutt’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2009. The verdict was announced on November 16, 2010, just 3 weeks after the trial started. The nursing home failed to provide adequate care to Offutt, resulting in dehydration, malnutrition, infections and bedsores, his family said. Employees from Adult Protective Services with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services supported the claims of nursing home neglect in this case. A representative for the nursing home expressed strong disappointment and disagreement with the jury’s decision and said the facility intends to appeal. It is important to note that nursing home neglect is very difficult to prove and this award is not necessarily representative of the standard case.
Contacting a New York Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer
When your loved one suffers serious injury or death because of nursing home neglect or abuse you are entitled to seek compensation for your damages and suffering. Consulting with a New York nursing home neglect lawyer can help you better understand your rights, determine liability for your injuries and decide if filing a nursing home neglect claim is right for you. At Gacovino Lake & Associates we have formed a dedicated network of nursing home neglect lawyers that serve clients nationwide. Our New York office serves residents of the 5 boroughs with their auto accident, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, defective drug, premises liability and Workers’ Compensation claims. For experienced help with your nursing home neglect claim, contact us today – 1-800-246-4878.
