Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

After state health officials found multiple serious food safety violations, the Nevada State Health Division's Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance suspended the food permit for the Mission Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the day on Tuesday, September 2, 2009, forcing the facility to purchase restaurant food for its residents.

A routine survey by the Bureau found a 16 foot hole in the ceiling that could have contaminated the dishwashing area with leaking water. Investigators found meat, such as chicken and beef, and other perishable foods were stored at unsafe temperatures and food contact surfaces that were both soiled and contaminated. Investigators also found a malfunctioning dishwasher and determined that facility staff was unable to safely prepare food.

A surveyor remained at the facility after finding the food safety concerns and the facility was forced to serve meals from restaurants. The facility's food permit was restored at the end of the day, but the facility still faces possible fines.

Mary Lowery, a former nurse aide at Attah County Nursing Center in Kosciusko, Mississippi, pled guilty on February 11, 2009 to five counts of petit larceny and must repay nearly $1,300 in fines and court costs. Reportedly, Lowery took personal items from the residents of Attah County Nursing Center, although the specifics of her theft have yet to be released.

Edward "Tiger" Monsour's family thought that his 2005 stay at Manor Health Care Center in Las Vegas, Nevada would be short. Nearly a year later, in April 2006, his family removed him from the facility via wheelchair wearing a diaper and suffering from bedsores and a gangrenous heel ulcer. He later died of sepsis.

The family filed a complaint in District Court in 2006, prior to Mr. Monsour's death, alleging that there was inadequate supervision, lack of staffing, and a wound care nurse who knew nothing about treating pressure sores. The family was awarded over $754,000.00.

Now, attorneys for Manor Health Care Center have filed motions seeking to modify the decision as well as reduce the settlement amount arguing that Nevada law does not allow heirs to recover most of the damages because the arbitrator found against the portion of the complaint that claimed wrongful death.