Extendicare Faces Second Class Action Lawsuit
We had discussed the class action lawsuit filed in Seattle, Washington on our previous blog. Now, a second class action lawsuit has been filed, this time in Minnesota involving eight Extendicare homes.
Laura Bernstein lives at the Texas Terrace Nursing Home in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday, October 30, 2008 against Extendicare alleging consumer fraud. The suit represents at least 1,400 residents in the eight Extendicare homes involved. Ms. Bernstein says that Extendicare promises more than it delivers, resulting in poor resident care and hundreds of rule violations, all while the corporations involved in the nursing home continue to earn money. State inspectors have cited the involved homes for 218 violations in the past two years, which is far above the state average of ten per year. The suite alleges that Extendicare lured clients with promises of care it could not provide and that Extendicare sought out "high-need" residents in order to increase profit. Generally, nursing homes are paid more for residents with greater medical needs.
The Minnesota class-action suit seeks restitution of approximately 40% of private pay fees, a change in Extendicare policies, and a court-appointed monitor to ensure Extendicare complies.
Amy Wiffler, the Director of Operations for Extendicare in Minnesota said, "I'm in these sites every day and I know first-hand the good things we're doing for residents in those buildings."
