According to a report from 11 Alive, Brian Jones—a man who was left paralyzed after a catastrophic collision with a fatigued semi-truck driver in 2018—has filed a nursing home neglect lawsuit. The defendant in the case is Pruitt Health, a nursing home in Lilburn, GA. The facility is located in Gwinnett County, just east of Atlanta. Mr. Jones alleges that he was forced to endure extremely unsanitary conditions at the nursing home—including being left to sit in urine and feces for more than eight hours. Here, our Atlanta nursing home abuse and neglect attorney provides an overview of the allegations and explains the standard of liability for a nursing home neglect claim in Georgia.
Allegations: Vulnerable Resident Endured Severe Neglect in Georgia Nursing Home
Brian Jones had his life tragically and dramatically altered by that catastrophic 2018 semi-truck accident. Following the crash, he was hospitalized for nearly three-quarters of a year. Subsequently, Mr. Jones was transferred to Pruitt Health—a nursing home in Lilburn. While he was there, Mr. Jones alleges that he was forced to ensure severe neglect. He has filed a lawsuit against the nursing home. Among other things, he alleges that he was forced to endure:
- Being left in unsanitary conditions, including multiple hours in uncleaned urine/feces; and
- Severe verbal mistreatment by staff when he raised complaints.
Notably, this is not the first time that nursing home abuse/nursing home neglect allegations have been raised against this facility. Records obtained from the local police department emphasize that at least three other complaints were raised by residents of Pruitt Health in recent years. As part of his lawsuit, Mr. Jones is seeking compensation for his damages and justice for himself and other vulnerable people who are in similar circumstances.
Nursing Homes in Georgia Can Be Held Legally Accountable for Harm Caused By Neglect
In Georgia, nursing homes owe a duty of care to their residents. Indeed, there are both federal laws and state laws in place to regulate nursing homes and other assisted living facilities. In effect, this means that nursing homes are legally required to provide a level of care that ensures the well-being and safety of their occupants. If a resident suffers harm due to neglect, the nursing home can be held legally accountable. Notably, the Georgia Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities affirms the rights of vulnerable nursing home residents. A nursing home can potentially be held legally liable for harm caused by nursing home neglect.
An Overview of Compensation for Nursing Home Neglect Victims in Georgia
Compensation in nursing home neglect cases in Georgia is primarily designed to cover the damages suffered by the victim. These damages can be economic and non-economic (intangible). How much you can recover in any particular nursing home neglect claim depends on a number of different case-specific factors. Financial compensation may be recovered for:
- Economic Damages: Economic damages are out-of-pocket expenses that can be quantified, such as medical costs, rehabilitation fees, and any necessary future medical care. If a resident has to be relocated to another facility those costs may be covered as well.
- Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages are intangible losses like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress. While it can be challenging to put a precise number on these types of damages, they are crucial and should be compensated.
- Punitive Damages (Limited Remedy): In some extreme cases where neglect was particularly egregious, victims might also be awarded punitive damages. This form of compensation is not so much to compensate the victim but to punish the nursing home.
Even when liability is clear nursing homes—and, most importantly, their insurers—fight hard to pay out as little as possible to victims and families. As experienced nursing home neglect attorneys, we work tirelessly to help our clients secure the absolute maximum compensation, whether that is through a settlement, arbitration, or litigation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Top Atlanta Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today
At Lourie, Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC, our Atlanta nursing home neglect lawyers are compassionate, knowledgeable advocates for justice. We go above and beyond to get justice for our clients. If your loved one was harmed by negligence in an assisted living facility, our legal team is here as a resource. Call us now or contact us online for your free, fully confidential case evaluation. With offices in Atlanta and Augusta, we handle nursing home neglect claims throughout Georgia.