Colorado Nursing Home Abuse: $3.3 Million Awarded
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A Colorado jury delivered a resounding message to negligent nursing homes in 2014: resident care is not optional. In a landmark case, 83-year-old James Sharon and his family were awarded $3.3 million in damages due to the egregious neglect he suffered at Belmont Lodge Health Care Center in Pueblo, Colorado.
A Litany of Suffering
The evidence of neglect was undeniable. Sharon endured bedsores, skin tears, abrasions, dehydration, malnutrition, and recurring infections, including E. coli and urinary tract infections. These afflictions were a direct result of inadequate care and attention from the nursing home staff.
“He Must Be Okay?” – A Flawed Defense
Representing Sharon and his family, Brent L. Moss highlighted the weakness of the nursing home’s defense. “Their argument was that since he was still living there, he must be okay,” Moss explained. However, even their own expert witness admitted to significant deviations from the accepted standard of care.
Punitive Damages Send a Powerful Message
The jury’s verdict included $300,000 for pain and suffering, the maximum allowed under Colorado law at the time. The remaining $3 million served as a powerful punitive measure against Belmont Lodge and its Atlanta-based parent company. This substantial sum sends a clear message to the nursing home industry: neglect will have severe consequences.
A Growing Trend: Holding Nursing Homes Accountable
This case reflects a growing trend of juries imposing significant punitive damages on nursing homes found guilty of negligence. In 2011, a West Virginia jury awarded $91.5 million, including $80 million in punitive damages, to the family of an 87-year-old resident who died due to neglect. Even larger verdicts, reaching into the billions, have been recorded in other states.
Protecting Vulnerable Residents
Suspect nursing home abuse or neglect? Don’t wait. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and let us help you protect your loved one.
Explore the other media coverage about this case: AARP
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