California Nursing Home Issued Most Severe Citation Under State Law

By: William M. Berman, Attorney at Law

LEMON GROVE, CALIFORNIA – Lemon Grove Care & Rehabilitation Center, a 158-bed nursing home, was recently issued a “AA” citation and fined $80,000 by the state for its failure to properly supervise a 74-year-old woman who caught fire and later died.  According to the California Department of Public Health, no staff members were supervising residents as they attempted to smoke in the nursing home’s designated smoking area.  The woman was reportedly attempting to lite her cigarette when her jacket caught fire causing burns to her head, chest and arms.  She died 10-days later.

According to the report issued by the state, the facility failed to implement “preventative measures such as routine or random monitoring by staff to ensure the resident’s safety.” Like many elderly in our state’s nursing homes, this woman suffered from memory loss, was confused and had decreased safety awareness. The nursing home has since changed its policy to require staff to supervise residents while at the designated smoking area.

Berman & Riedel, LLP, has established itself as one of the most successful elder abuse and neglect litigation firms in California.  The attorneys and staff are experienced in handling these complex claims and dedicate themselves to helping victims of abuse and neglect obtain proper compensation and justice for the wrongs they have suffered.

William M. Berman is an attorney with the firm Berman & Riedel, LLP, and handles elder abuse and neglect cases throughout the State of California.


About Berman & Riedel, LLP firm managing partner attorney William M. Berman:

Attorney William M. Berman focuses his practice in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and elder abuse and neglect. Strictly a plaintiffs’ dedicated firm, he never represents insurance companies in the defense of claims. Mr. Berman’s firm remains staunchly committed to helping those who have suffered serious injury or loss due the negligence, intentional misconduct or wrongful acts of others.

Mr. Berman has grown his firm to what is considered one of the largest and most successful elder abuse/neglect practices within California. Through his continued successes in handling claims involving nursing home and elder abuse and neglect, Mr. Berman remains a prominent figure in advocating on behalf of this vulnerable class of citizens.

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Attorney Bill Berman

William M. Berman, Esquire
Berman & Riedel, LLP
12264 El Camino Real, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92130
ph: (858) 350-8855
fax: (858) 350-9855
email:
web: www.bermanlawyers.com