Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

The Pennsylvania Department of Welfare is trying to shut down Bon Venue personal care home located in Hampton, Pennsylvania. The owner of the facility, Scott Gordon, has been cited with numerous problems, which include insufficient food and financial issues. Gordon was physically barred from the facility in May 2009 and has been denied access to its financial records. Gordon faces criminal charges for forgery. In March 2009, Gordon presented a $22,102.53 check from the account of Joseph Summa, a resident at the facility, at PNC bank. Mr. Summa, who is unable to care for himself, maintains a checking account with his sister, Kathy Summa. A PNC employee contacted Mr. Summa's sister and advised her that the bank suspected fraudulent activity on the account. Gordon had signed Mr. Summa's name to the back of the check; bank officials discovered the forgery when attempting to verify signatures. Ms. Summa contacted police. First, Gordon told investigators that it was a mistake and that he believed Mr. Summa's account held VA money owed to the facility. Mr. Summa is not a military veteran and eventually Gordon admitted to the forgery to cover payroll and facility expenses. The Summa's account had a balance of $42.81 when Gordon presented the check to the bank. The Pennsylvania Department of Welfare banned Gordon from the facility and is currently running the facility. Since May 17, 2009, 53 residents have left Bon Venue. According to Debbie Luft, the overnight supervisor at the facility, there is little food and no money to buy more. Some employees have not been paid since early May. Several violations cited by the Welfare Department have gone unrepaired, including having locks on the doors to keep residents from leaving. The locks, which were supposed to be fixed, remain in place and the facility has begun to accrue a daily fine of $405. Luft says a roof leak flooded the third floor dining room and she has see mice in the kitchen on the second floor. The facility has almost run out of milk, has no bread, and very little laundry detergent. Luft and six other employees have vowed to stay at the facility to help ensure the safety and care of the remaining residents. Gordon, who purchased the facility in July 2008, runs the facility as a for-profit company. He is a former licensed nursing home administrator who has owned at least three other personal care homes in Pennsylvania. Allegedly, he has owed the IRS over $1 million in tax liens since 2001.