Earlier this month in Minnesota, a man pleaded guilty to the rape of an 83-year-old nursing home resident just moments after he reached a settlement agreement with the woman’s family in a civil case. According to one local news source, the man faces a potential four years in jail when sentenced. The guilty plea was entered just a few moments after he settled the civil case brought by the victim’s family for the injuries suffered by their loved one.
Evidently, the man was a nursing assistant at a nursing home in Minneapolis. In the morning hours of December 18, 2014, a nurse at the facility recalls looking into one of the facility’s rooms and seeing the man moving back and forth in a thrusting motion. The nurse immediately went to her supervisor and reported the nursing assistant’s behavior. He was then removed from the floor, and the police were called. After conducting their investigation, the man was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Earlier this month, the man settled the civil case brought by the victim’s family. While the exact details of the settlement are not publicly known, reporters were told that one of the provisions of the settlement called for a $15 million fine, made payable to the victim’s estate, if the man ever is convicted of rape again. In addition, the man was required to pay several thousand dollars to the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
Nursing Home Abuse in Maryland
While this tragic case arose in Minneapolis, these situations arise in Maryland nursing homes with disturbing frequency. Each year, hundreds of nursing home residents are assaulted in one way or another, and they often have little in the way of recourse. While the types of abuse can vary, the most common types are verbal abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.
Of course, it is illegal to assault a nursing home resident. However, the unfortunate reality is that many nursing home residents have an exceptionally difficult time reporting the abuse because they often have little contact with the outside world. When they are eventually able to report the horrors they have suffered, many times people don’t initially take their complaints of abuse seriously, resulting in continued abuse.
Is Your Loved One in Danger?
If you have a loved one in a Maryland nursing home and you believe that they may be in danger of being abused, you should immediately remove them from the facility while documenting any evidence of abuse. Once your loved one is safe, consider speaking with a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney to see if the parties responsible for the abuse can be held liable for their actions. The skilled advocates at the Maryland-based law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience representing injured Marylanders in all kinds of nursing home abuse cases. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation. Calling is free and results in no obligation on your part.
See More Blog Posts:
Kentucky Nursing Home Required to Pay $18 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published July 27, 2015.
Video Camera Installed By Loved Ones Catches Abusive Nurses in Action, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published August 13, 2015.