$29 million was awarded in a CA jury verdict in a nursing home death of a 79-year-old woman who died from bed sores and delayed treatment. Horizon West Nursing Home was charged at trial with understaffing and cutting expenses to boost corporate profits. For example, the nursing home avoided paying overtime to maintain sufficient nursing staff and cut its staff to the "bare bones". Patient care suffered as a direct result.
The nursing staff only had 1 RN for the care of 40 Alzheimer patients. A certified nursing assistant - CNA at the nursing home testified that she quit because the patients were not getting adequate care. Punitive damages were included in the award.
The jury appeared angry over the Nursing Homes emphasis of bottom line profits over the care of dependant elderly patients. That a death occurred needlessly because of understaffing underscored this feeling that adequate care should never be sacrificed in favor of corporate greed.
