State authorities are closing a Jacksonville nursing home because of abusive conditions – a measure so rare that local authorities can’t remember it ever happening here.  This facility is one in which a known sex offender raped a comatose woman and inspection reports back to at least 2008 document out-of-control patients who became violent.  One recent AHCA report resulted in 257 deficiencies. But the final straw came during a February investigation, when it found some residents were hitting other residents, falling repeatedly and attempting to escape, including one resident that got as far as St. Johns County and another that attempted to climb the exterior fence. 

It is saddening and truly unfortunate to hear that such extraordinary measures are being taken to stop the ongoing abuse and neglect in a Jacksonville nursing home.  As a community, we need to work harder to immediately hold nursing homes responsible when there has been abuse or neglect.  It is often, sadly, the most vulnerable, that need our protection.  If you feel a loved one has been the victim of abuse or neglect in this or any other nursing home, please contact us…

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As corporations become more and more fearful of lawsuits stemming from their own negligence, they continue to try to protect themselves by making their customers and clients sign arbitration agreements as part of their contracts. These arbitration agreements eliminate the right for you to bring your case in front of a judge and jury if you’ve been injured due to a corporation’s negligence.

The Boston Herald recently did a story on nursing homes that take advantage of some of our most at-risk citizens by urging seniors to sign complex nursing home contracts with arbitration agreements tucked away inside. This means that the nursing home is less likely to pay for gross negligence or outright abuse of its patients because arbitration agreements almost always result in lower awards for victims and less legal fees for the facility.

Harrell & Harrell has experienced nursing home abuse lawyers in Jacksonville that can talk to you about your case if you or a loved one have been the victim of nursing home abuse. Please contact us by phone or send us an e-mail if you have any questions.

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