On May 9, 2010, Virginia Hicks, a resident at an Oklahoma City nursing home called Epworth Villa, suffered a broken wrist when an aide allegedly grabbed her arm with much too force.
After the incident, a lawsuit was brought against Epworth Villa. District Judge Patricia Parrish found the aide’s actions to be “atrocious” and “utterly intolerable.” She ruled that the nursing home was liable for the abuse and ordered them to provide $15 million in damages, effectively bankrupting the owners.
However, criminal charges have not been brought against the aide who had injured the elderly woman.
Nursing home reform advocates are outraged by what they perceive to be a complete failure of the system. Wes Bledsoe, head of A Perfect Cause, stated, “The likelihood is they’ve abused one person, there is a likelihood they have abused others and yet this person has had no action taken against them at all.”
Adult Protective Service investigated and confirmed the abuse incident soon after it had occurred. They claim they sent a report to the Oklahoma County District Attorney within two months. No action was taken.
According to a study by a national advocacy group, Oklahoma is the second worst state when it comes to nursing home care.
Be sure to visit your elderly loved ones frequently and check up on their physical, mental and emotional health. If you spot any signs of abuse or negligence, please get in touch with the compassionate personal injury attorneys at Maples Law Firm. We fight hard to bring justice to individuals and companies that perpetrate and/or tolerate elder abuse and negligence. To learn more about what we can do for you and your loved one, call (405) 705-5050.
