When elderly loved ones are put in the care of a nursing home, families expect the facility to provide adequate care that ensures the safety of its residents. Unfortunately, many facility operators fall short of their duty to provide that reasonable standard of care.
If you believe that your loved one has suffered abuse or negligence in a nursing home, you may like to consider contacting a lawyer about your concerns. At TSR Injury Law, we have a team of lawyers that are dedicated to seeking justice on behalf of nursing home abuse victims and a number of our attorneys have been selected within the top five percent in the state by Super Lawyers, including firm partners Charles D. Slane and Rich Ruohonen.
Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation. We are available 24/7 and there are no upfront fees if we take on your case.
Call (612) TSR-TIME or complete our contact form.
Rich Ruohonen represented an individual in his 40s involved in an accident whose injuries resulted in amputation of his leg for a settlement of $12 million.
Julia was a passenger on a golf cart. She was ejected from the golf cart when the driver took a sharp turn. The driver of cart was intoxicated and he admitted Julia was thrown out to the right when he turned to the left. He later changed his story. Rich Ruohonen and Nate Maus worked up this case over a few years and litigated this matter, settling shortly before trial. TSR hired numerous experts to prove her ejection was the fault of the driver and the owner of the golf cart. Julia hit her head on the cart path and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. She had subarachnoid hemorrhaging and subdural hematomas. She underwent a craniectomy where part of the skull is removed for a few weeks, to allow for the brain to swell, and later put back on to her head after the swelling subsides. Julia had seizures and has no memory of the first few months in the hospital and a rehabilitation center. She had medical bills of approximately $700,000, most of which were incurred in the first six months following the golf cart crash. Julia has significant ongoing symptoms including loss of cognitive and executive function, personality and behavioral changes, fatigue, loss of motivation, memory problems, dizziness, inability to learn new information, retrieve information, and numerous other issues. The case was settled for $2,750,000 during an all-day mediation.
N.R. suffered a severe, traumatic brain while under the care of a commercial daycare provider. She is believed to have been shaken while at the daycare by one of the workers. There were no cameras at the daycare to show what occurred. When she was picked up by her parent, she seemed lethargic and a police investigation ensued, and it was narrowed down to two workers that cared for her that day as being the cause of what occurred. Neither would admit that anything unusual occurred. Medical doctors confirmed this type of brain injury usually only occurs in the event a child is shaken. Partner Rich Ruohonen is well-known for representing children who are injured as a result of daycare provider negligence and was hired to represent N.R. He was able to secure a $1,000,000 settlement for N.R. Although N.R. still has ongoing effects from the traumatic brain injury, N.R. has improved far better than ever expected and should lead a normal life.
Jordan was only six when he was severely injured in an elevator incident. He and some friends were going up to the sixth floor of a building to visit another friend. The elevator malfunctioned and got stuck in between floors. Jordan and his friends pried the doors open and tried to climb out onto the floor. Unfortunately, Jordan was unable to do this and fell three stories down the elevator shaft. Jordan suffered a fractured skull and had a documented brain injury. His mother had to take one year off from work to help care for Jordan, but through the good work of Hennepin County Medical Center, Jordan was able to go back to school, regaining 97 percent of his mental functioning and most of his physical functioning.
Jordan’s case took eight years to wrap up, mainly because it is hard to document a brain injury for a child. Jordan had prior Attention Deficit Disorder issues and the insurance company argued that his current symptomology was caused by the ADD and not the fall. Testimony from numerous HCMC doctors supported a brain injury and a settlement was achieved of approximately $350,000. Because Jordan was a minor at the time of settlement, Partner Steve Terry created a qualified assignment annuity that allowed Jordan to receive smaller amounts of payments from age 18 to 30. In addition, Jordan’s mother was compensated for the time she missed from work and for all of her out-of-pocket medical expenses. After the annuity was set up, the $350,000 settlement had a projected value of approximately $850,000 by the time it paid out.
DP was a young man injured by another kid. He was a birthday party and another (uninvited) kid threw a hammer at his head. The hammer caused significant injury which required surgery. A claim was made against the hammer thrower’s parent’s homeowner’s insurance. DP made a miraculous recovery that included fully resuming soccer activities in school. He made it back to school and his grades are exceptional. After waiting a few years to make sure there was no residual brain injury, a settlement was reached of over $270,000.00. DP had an annuity set up to make payments (tax free) over time. Partner Steven Terry created a qualified assignment to make sure the entire amount of proceeds were tax free (base investment and the accrued interest).
Jack fell off of a stairway when leaving a customer’s home. There was no guardrail to protect him from falling off the stairway platform. He suffered a fractured talus. This injury took months to heal. He suffered through intense pain and fracture blisters. American Family offered only $80,000, arguing Jack would be found to be largely at fault for his fall. Attorney Rich Ruohonen and Jack refused this offer. A Hennepin County jury returned a verdict of over $156,000 with only a 10% finding of fault on Jack.
C.L. was hit by a golf cart driven by an employee while attending a baseball tournament in Cooperstown, New York. The place where this injury occurred had over 100 baseball teams every week with thousands of kids who stay in dormitories and played baseball on a weekly basis. C.L. suffered a broken femur, which required surgical repair with one screw being put in to stabilize the femur fracture. The screw was taken out several weeks later. C.L. really had no ongoing problems following the removal of the screw. Partner Rich Ruohonen settled the case for $110,000.
J.D., a minor, suffered salmonella poisoning from a local Chinese buffet restaurant. He spent five days in the hospital with severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. He had ongoing fatigue and general malaise for about two weeks following this food poisoning. Partner Rich Ruohonen settled the case for $85,000.
W.P. was 4 year-old playing in his back yard sandbox when a neighbors cat, who was often allowed to roam the neighborhood free, jumped the fence and attacked W.P. causing facial lacerations. W.P. had some mild scarring as a result of this vicious cat attack. The case was sued out by Partner Rich Ruohonen and settled for $60,000.
A father in his late 30s was working at an open mining pit, stacking a heavy conveyor belt onto a truck. He and the construction team were using a front-end loader to raise the conveyor onto the truck when the hydraulics on the loader failed, causing the conveyor to fall and crush the young father. Nate investigated the incident for the family and, with the help of an engineering expert, determined that there was a defect in the hydraulic system that caused the failure. The case settled without a lawsuit for a confidential seven-figure sum.
TSR obtained an eight-figure confidential settlement for a person who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a workplace.
A retired man was at a discount store buying supplies for his granddaughter’s kindergarten class when a store employee picked a fight with a customer. The customer, after being beaten by three store employees, came back into the store with a gun and started shooting. The retired man was hit by a stray bullet and was killed. Lyndsey Jorgensen and Nate Bjerke started a lawsuit for the man’s family and proved that if the store had followed its own safety protocols, the shooting never would have happened. The case settled for a confidential sum.
Adam was at an outdoor concert when bad weather came in and blew down a promotional tent. The tent pole hit Adam in the side of the head, damaging his brain and spinal cord. The bar that held the event denied responsibility, blaming the weather and everyone else they could find. TSR Injury Law partner Nate Bjerke started a lawsuit and unearthed facts that showed the bar was told to have a plan to take the tent down if bad weather was in the forecast, but the bar chose not to do so. The case resolved for a confidential seven-figure sum after a binding arbitration.
Partner Rich Ruohonen represented two minors who were assaulted and abused by an employee of juvenile detention center called the Hills in Duluth, Minnesota. These minors were in the Hills for legal issues and were serving time related to court-ordered juvenile detention. These cases were settled for confidential amounts to the satisfaction of the clients involved in both cases.
The rights of nursing home residents are protected by federal and state law. Each state has a specific bill of rights when it comes to nursing home laws. In Minnesota, these rights include, but are not limited to the following:
Nursing home facilities that disregard a resident’s rights and cause him or her harm may be held accountable for abuse. That is why we recommend contacting an experienced Bloomington nursing home abuse attorney at our firm so that we may take the necessary steps in protecting the rights of your loved one. We are available to discuss your situation during a free and confidential consultation.
It is unfortunate that elder abuse is a common occurrence in the U.S. Approximately 1 in 10 adults ages 60 and older have become the victim to one or more forms of elder abuse.
It may be difficult to detect abuse right away however, there are certain signs to look out for. Our Bloomington nursing home abuse attorneys are prepared to handle cases involving a wide variety of abuse, such as:
Unscrupulous nursing home staff members may cheat or steal from residents for a variety of reasons.
Of course, none of these are excuses for exploiting innocent patients.
While dishonest nursing home workers cannot blame anyone but themselves for their actions, they are not always the only responsible parties. In many cases, nursing home management had reason to believe there was theft occurring in their facility, but failed to respond adequately. For example, they may have disciplined guilty employees without contacting the police or taking steps to end the theft.
Other signs of nursing home abuse to keep an eye out for include:
Senior citizens take prescription drugs for a variety of health conditions. The prescription drugs most commonly used in nursing homes treat gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular problems, and mental health concerns. Any misuse of these drugs can have disastrous results for a patient.
Depending on the drug, as well as the individual patient’s overall health, potential consequences of overmedicating can include:
The consequences of under-medicating a problem, on the other hand, can include:
A Minnesota nursing home negligence lawyer can help if your loved one has suffered painful consequences like these.
Unlike isolated cases of abuse or neglect, unhygienic conditions in nursing care are usually a systemic problem. In other words, they are not a case of one or two reckless nursing home workers. Instead, the problem usually lies with the way the home is managed, from hiring new workers to supervising them, to setting cleanliness standards for the facility.
Bed sores are formed when unconscious or mobility-impaired patients are not shifted into different positions on a regular basis, or when patients’ restraints are not removed or shifted often enough. They can be made worse when a patient sweats or is incontinent.
Like burns, bed sores are divided into different stages depending on the depth of the damage done. The stages are:
When malnutrition is not treated effectively, the consequences for a person’s health can be severe. A lack of adequate nutrition can:
The medical care needed to address these health problems can be costly.
Any form of abuse can drastically damage a person’s health and well-being. Reach out to our firm to review your situation and discuss your legal options. There is no risk in calling us.
Call us now at (612) TSR-TIME to set up your free consultation.
TSR Injury Law has recovered over $1 billion for clients who have suffered injuries or losses due to the negligent actions of others.
Our firm has earned a 5-star rating for our commitment to excellence in legal representation and client satisfaction.
With more than 20 years of experience, TSR Injury Law has a proven record of success.
Many nursing homes attempt to draw in new clients by boasting about their medical technology, luxurious facilities, or beautiful décor. However, the most important asset a nursing home can have is a well-trained and caring staff. Without this basic resource, high quality amenities barely matter.
Nursing home managers have a very important responsibility to make sure that all their workers are prepared for their jobs. Even if they hire people who have previous experience, they still need to train the new employees in the policies of their particular facility. If they do not, even talented workers may find themselves unsure of what to do in unexpected situations.
Contact TSR Injury Law today if your loved one has been injured because workers were not trained to:
With the assistance of a qualified attorney, you and your loved one could receive compensation for your medical expenses and pain and suffering.
If your loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse, it is important to notify the proper authorities and then contact an attorney as soon as possible to discuss and determine if you are eligible to take legal action.
If you have a case and decide to proceed with our firm, we will work to prepare a strong argument for your damages claim, which may include conducting a detailed investigation of the facility, it’s staff and other areas that may benefit the case, which may include collecting medical reports, photographic evidence, witness accounts, and communicating with the nurses, staff members and caregivers.
Once enough evidence is collected, we will determine the value of damages and fight to obtain it. Depending on the specifics of your case, we may be able to help you recover the following forms of compensation: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are quantifiable damages, such as hospital bills, doctor’s visits, emergency services, prescription medications, assistive medical equipment and other medical expenses. Non-economic damages on the other hand do not have a specified dollar amount, such as physical pain and suffering caused by the abuse and emotional distress experienced after the abuse.
Our Bloomington nursing home abuse lawyers are also prepared to go to trial and represent your loved one throughout every step of the legal process. Building a strong nursing home abuse case is difficult, but our legal team has the experience, knowledge and the dedication to help.
When a resident experiences abuse or neglect, the nursing home facility may be held liable for the following reasons:
The nursing home facility is required to maintain a safe space. If abuse or neglect is taking place, the supervisor should be aware of it and make proper decisions to report and put an end to the abuse.
Our dedicated attorneys are recognized for their skill and unwavering commitment to justice. They have a proven record of success in leveling the playing field, securing justice, and helping people rebuild from the impact of injury.
No Fees Unless We Win
If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of abuse, you may be concerned about his or her well-being and how to get them out of the situation. There are certain steps you can take to begin the process in protecting your loved one.
You can speak to the facility administrator directly and discuss your concerns. It may be possible that the administrator is not aware of the abuse and they can take measures to prevent further abuse.
This is an advocacy agency that investigates complaints, such as nursing home abuse. The Office of Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans can be reached by calling one of two numbers listed on the site.
Contact the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center to make an official compliant. The center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It may be difficult knowing what to do in this situation. At TSR Injury Law, we can handle these steps on your behalf and ensure that this matter is taken seriously for the sake of your loved one’s health.
Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form to get started.
See what our clients have to say about working with TSR Injury Law. Their stories reflect our commitment to providing exceptional legal representation and personalized attention to every case.
It’s important for nursing home abuse victims and their families to understand that residents have rights and that help is available.
Schedule your free and confidential consultation with one of our lawyers today. There are no upfront fees or costs if we agree to handle your case and we only get paid if we recover compensation on your behalf.
Our office is located less than 15 minutes from the Minnesota Masonic Home, a nursing home in Bloomington with nearly a century of service.
We are available 24/7 to take your call or chat online. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.
