Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Assisted Living

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Inadequate staffing

July/August 2020

Rose Leonard lived at both the Laurelwood Care Center and the affiliated Amber Springs Personal Care Center, an assisted living facility. While at Laurelwood, she suffered osteomyelitis in her right heel bone, a pressure sore on the heel, a deep tissue injury to her right calf, and a skin tear on her right thigh. Once at Amber Springs, she developed an E. coli infection, dehydration, and a pressure ulcer on her buttocks, among other problems.

Leonard later died. Her daughter, on behalf of her estate, filed suit against the owners, operators, and managers of the facilities, alleging failure to provide adequate care, inadequate staffing, and failure to provide a safe environment, in violation of state and federal regulations.

The jury awarded $800,000.

Citation: Shaffer v. Grane Healthcare Co., No. 2015-3528 (Pa. Ct. Com. Pl. Cambria Cty. Mar. 13, 2020).

Plaintiff counsel: Michael Collis and AAJ member Ryan Duty, both of Pittsburgh.