Holding Sava Senior Care Legally Accountable for Nursing Home Abuse
If you have noticed that your loved one is being mistreated, abused, neglected, or even passed away as a result of inadequate care at a nursing home managed by SavaSeniorCare, you are likely considering a lawsuit. However, you may be feeling overwhelmed with questions; our attorneys are here to help. Our lawyers are narrowly focused on this sub-practice area, and we can help your family investigate a potential neglect or abuse lawsuit against Sava Senior Care.
Senior Justice Law Firm focuses on representing families who have been affected by negligence and abuse in nursing homes. Together, we approach cases against conglomerates like SavaSenior Care with more than 50 years of experience. We can help you achieve the best outcome possible.
If you suspect that a Sava Senior Care facility is guilty of negligence or abuse and you would like to investigate a negligence claim, reach out today. We would be glad to sit down with you and discuss your situation free of charge to determine what your next steps should be. Our lawyers have successfully worked on hundreds of lawsuits against SavaSeniorCare and other facilities. Get in touch so that we can answer your questions at 888-375-9998 or fill out the Free Case Consultation form.
How Do I Know if I Have a Case Against a Sava Senior Care Nursing Home?
Some injuries are common in nursing homes that are abusive or negligent. These include:
- Bedsores, Pressure Sores, or Decubitus Ulcers
If a resident is left lying in the same position for hours or days at a time, the pressure placed on small areas of their skin (such as at their tailbone, elbows, and shoulders) can cause ulcers called bedsores or pressure sores. These are the clearest proof of negligence in a nursing home, because bed sores never occur as a result of any medical condition or diagnosis. They are easily prevented if staff simply shift a resident’s position in bed every few hours.
- Medication Mistakes
When a nursing home fails to properly keep records or supervise their patients correctly, they may offer the incorrect dose of a medicine, give it too often or too infrequently, or provide the wrong medication entirely. This can have serious consequences for your loved one’s health.
- Falls Resulting in Broken Bones or Brain Bleeds
If you notice that your loved one is suffering from unexplained injuries such as broken bones, bruises, or head injuries, one likely culprit is repeated falls. Nursing homes have a responsibility to reduce the fall risks in their facilities, such as by lowering doorframes, keeping floors clean and dry, and using beds that have railings. When they fail to do this and your loved one falls, they can be held accountable.
- Infections
Infections are common in nursing homes, not only due to issues like inadequate cleaning, but also because of a lack of attentive care paid to each resident. Infected Picc lines, catheter infections, UTIs, and sepsis can result in residents whose medical needs are not seen to in a timely manner. Because older folks do not have as strong of an immune system as younger individuals, these “minor” infections can soon turn deadly.
- Attacks by Other Residents or Staff
Both physical and sexual assault by other staff or residents are not uncommon in nursing homes. Whether resulting from staff who are stressed and lash out or from other nursing home residents who are permitted to wander without supervision, the nursing home is responsible for this lack of oversight.
- Dehydration & Malnutrition
When staff do not have time to sit with each resident while they eat, issues of malnutrition and dehydration become common. Older folks with mobility issues may not be able to lift a fork or mug to eat or drink, and so they may not be consuming the nutrients that they need to remain healthy.
- Unexplained Sudden Death or Wrongful Death
If you have reason to believe that your loved one or family member has been a victim of neglect or abuse in a nursing home managed by SavaSeniorCare, do not hesitate to get in touch. Our lawyers can determine whether you have a case against the facility and can guide you on what to do next. This may include reporting your loved one’s injury or death to state and local resources, as well as recouping the damages that you deserve and holding the nursing home accountable.
Who is SavaSeniorCare?
Sava Senior Care, also called SavaSeniorCare Administrative Services LLC, describes itself as a health care organization that strives to offer compassion, integrity, and respect for residents of their facilities. It is one of the largest services in the country that provides skilled nursing, memory care, and rehabilitation services.
Offering both short-term and long-term care, SavaSeniorCare currently operates almost 200 facilities across the nation. It operates in multiple states, but due to its continued expansion, more nursing homes owned and administered by the healthcare giant are popping up in more than 20 states across the country.
Are Sava Senior Care Facilities Bad Nursing Homes?
No, not necessarily. Most of the corporate run facilities in this country, regardless of ownership, suffer systemic problems like this. This does not mean poor care is acceptable though.
Most corporate run facilities in the U.S. face lawsuits and survey violations.
Lawsuits Against SavaSeniorCare for Nursing Home Abuse
SavaSeniorCare, the fifth largest skilled nursing company in the US, is no stranger to lawsuits; from inadequate staffing to reports of an administrator breaking a glass bottle over a female resident’s head, the company has seens its fair share of legal trouble. The US Department of Justice has joined in on a suit that combines multiple complaints against the company for overbilling Medicare. The suit, which alleges that SavaSeniorCare has been billing Medicare for unnecessary or uncompleted therapies, was pushed forward on September 27, 2016 when Chief District Judge Kevin Sharp refused to dismiss the case.
Employees of SavaSeniorCare spoke out against the behavior, stating that they faced threats of termination or other negative consequences—as well as public shaming—if they failed to go along with the plan to bill unnecessary therapies. This issue is alleged to have occurred in 185 of Sava’s facilities across four years.
Individual Nursing Home Negligence Lawsuits Against Sava Nursing Homes
Identifying nursing home abuse or negligence may not always been as clear-cut as it seems. If your loved one’s health has deteriorated unexpectedly for no apparent reason, it may indicate poor treatment. While previously mentioned issues such as bedsores, broken bones, brain bleeds, malnutrition, and physical or sexual abuse are key indicators of abuse, they are not the only types of treatment that a nursing home can be held liable for.
Regardless of the manner in which your loved one or family member suffered at the hands of a Sava Senior Care facility, a nursing home abuse attorney is the next best step after discovering the situation. Filing and managing lawsuits of nursing home negligence is nuanced and requires experience. Our firm is home to a number of lawyers who make this field of practice their only work.
As a result, we have access to critical resources, such as reliable expert witnesses who can analyze the cost reports published by SavaSeniorCare facilities to discover important information, such as whether your loved one’s nursing home was understaffed. This focus on maximizing profit at the cost of residents’ health may have resulted in the injury or death of your loved one.
If you would like to see the best possible outcome in your lawsuit against the nursing home, you should work with a law firm that has filed previous cases that specifically involve the corporate structure of Sava Senior Care.
Notable Verdicts Against Sava Senior Care Nursing Homes
Lawsuits are not a new concept for Sava Senior Care. Past cases against the medical conglomerate include:
Farfan et al v. SSC Carmichael Operating Company LP et al
Allegations: In a class action lawsuit filed against SavaSeniorCare for multiple facilities in California, Farfan et al allege that the company failed to adequately compensate staff for hours worked and illegally deducted pay from their paychecks. The defendant locations, SSC Carmichael Operating Company LP; SSC Carmichael Operating GP, LLC; SSC Carmichael
Management Company LP; SSC Hickory 13th Operating Company LLC; SSC Hickory East Operating Company LLC; SavaSeniorCare Administrative Services, LLC; SavaSeniorCare, LLC; and SavaSeniorCare Consulting, LLC, were held under examination for deducting 30 minutes of paid time for meal breaks when employees did not take them.
Additionally, SavaSeniorCare and its related facilities were alleged to have failed to compensate staff for hours worked over 40 per week; this is in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and California law, both of which dictate that overtime pay at a rate of time and a half is required for all time worked above 40 hours per week. SavaSeniorCare also failed to provide itemized wage statements—a requirement under California law. Settlements for similar cases in the past have reached millions of dollars to compensate employees for income that was supposed to be earned.
Karen Mou v. SSC San Jose Operating Company LP, et al.
Allegations: In another California case, SavaSeniorCare faced a lawsuit in the Santa Clara County Superior Court for “dumping,” a long-term care facility practice that typically occurs as a result of profit-mongering. The allegations state that six nursing homes administered by SavaSeniorCare regularly discharged patients out of the facilities with no prior warning and removed their rights to contest their discharge.
Patient dumping is a term referring to selling or allocating a bed to an incoming resident when that bed is already claimed by a current resident. As a result, the resident who currently lives at the facility is discharged without warning and left scrambling to find a new place to live. In order to protect older folks, laws have been written granting the right to dispute a discharge. However, SavaSeniorCare is alleged to have failed to abide by these patient rights.
The Sava facilities allegedly did not notify residents prior to discharge, did not inform them of their rights, and did not assist them in notifying an ombudsman who could advocate on their behalf. Two of the dumped patients had “debilitating medical conditions” according to their attorneys and were in no position to experience a cessation of care.
Settlements Against SavaSeniorCare Nursing Homes for Abuse and Neglect Injuries
At Senior Justice Law Firm, we have undertaken numerous cases against facilities for nursing home negligence injuries. These settlements, like settlements reached against companies like Sava, are confidential. This means plaintiffs and law firms are not able to divulge details of these cases—such as names and settlement amounts—due to confidentiality clauses within settlement agreements.
Senior Justice Law Firm Can Help!
The attorneys at Senior Justice Law Firm have more than 50 years of experience in litigating against negligent nursing homes. Whether you are looking to settle out of court or see your day in the legal system, our lawyers would be happy to advocate for you. Call us, toll-free, for your no-obligation SavaSeniorCare consultation now at 888-375-9998.
FAQs on Suing SavaSeniorCare for Neglect
- How long will it take to settle my SavaSeniorCare nursing home abuse lawsuit?
- Each case is unique, so how long yours will take to settle depends on the details of your situation and what you intend to recover. Many SavaSeniorCare lawsuits settle outside of court, early on. However, you can find a more detailed timeline below.
- How do I know if I have a viable nursing home negligence case against SavaSeniorCare?
- Our attorneys specialize in nursing home abuse cases and would be happy to take a look at the information you provide about your situation to let you know if your concerns rise to the level of a lawsuit. If you suspect that someone you love is not receiving adequate care at a SavaSeniorCare nursing home or long-term care facility, you are doing the right thing by investigating and reaching out to an expert to help you. We can offer you additional advice and review your situation during a free consultation. You can reach us at 888-375-9998.
- My family member was injured inside a SavaSeniorCare nursing home. What should I do?
- Once you are aware of an injury that occurred at a nursing home or facility operated by SavaSeniorCare, the first step is to make sure that they receive the medical treatment that they need. Holding the nursing home accountable is important, but their health at this time is critical. When you call on medical care for your loved one, be sure that the one treating them is not affiliated with SavaSeniorCare.
Next, you need to report the abuse or neglect to the agencies in your local area that deal with this issue. They need to begin investigating as soon as possible. Organizations such as Ombudsman programs and Agencies for Aging will be interested in hearing about the situation. Please click here if you need assistance with where to report a nursing home injury.
After that, you next step is to speak with a legal expert who works in nursing home abuse. Senior Justice Law Firm would be happy to assist you in planning what to do next.
- I cannot afford a lawyer right now. How much do you charge to pursue a lawsuit against SavaSeniorCare?
- We know that right now, of all times, thinking about how to afford something is your last priority. It is important that you focus first on getting the situation resolved and healing from the struggle. Our law firm operates on a contingency basis. This means that simply working with us does not cost you anything. If we do not recover money in your case, you do not owe anything. If we do recover damages for you, you can use a portion of your recovered amount (typically between 33.3% to 40%) to pay us so that you get to keep more money than you started with without needing to pay out of pocket.
- What is My SavaSeniorCare Lawsuit Worth?
- It is only natural to wonder how much you may receive in a settlement or in damages for the treatment of your loved one in a Sava nursing home. Remember that each case is unique, so exactly how much you receive will depend on the specifics of your situation. That being said, many of the cases that we take against SavaSeniorCare settle around the low six figures mark. The individual facts surrounding your case will provide further insight into your potential recovery. You can speak to our attorneys at no charge about your SavaSeniorCare case at 888-375-9998 with no obligation.
Suing a SavaSeniorCare Nursing Home for Abuse
As you begin the process of filing a lawsuit against a SavaSeniorCare nursing home, you likely have more than a few questions. What are your next steps? How long will it take to settle your case and come to a resolution? Because these are some of the most frequent questions that we are asked, we compiled a general timeline to help you moderate your expectations and stay informed of where you are at in the process. Here is what you can expect, on average, when suing SavaSeniorCare nursing homes for abuse or negligence:
- Pre-Suit Investigation: 10-45 days. The investigation that begins before a lawsuit is filed does not have to take a long time. This time is allocated to discovering the details of what happened to your loved one, including any previous reports that were made and how injuries or death occurred. At this point, we will let you know whether we can help you with your case. If you would like to proceed, you will sit down with us to sign a contract regarding our contingency fees, and then we will proceed with gathering the medical records and information that we need.
- Notice to SavaSeniorCare: 30-90 days. After we have gathered all of the documentation we can so far and determined that there is a good faith basis for moving forward with a claim of abuse against Sava, we will alert SavaSeniorCare Administrative Services LLC of our intent to sue them. Sava may choose to settle instead of moving on to court; this may happen over the phone while speaking to lawyers or during mediation. All involved parties must agree to a settlement, but most cases end here, because settling is less costly for Sava than going to court.
- Litigation and Discovery: 6 months to 2 years. If one of the parties in the case does not agree to settle, your lawyers will file a formal lawsuit. This is called a Complaint, and it initiates another discovery period. During this time, we will obtain documentation directly from SavaSeniorCare, like financial records and incident reports. We will also acquire depositions (statements from witnesses, as well as staff and employees at the SavaSeniorCare facility in question).
- Trial: 3 days to 2 weeks. If your case finally reaches the court, we will try the claim you have brought against SavaSeniorCare. If the facts are clear, the trial may be over in just a few days. If the details are more nuanced, it may last for several weeks.
Abused and Neglected in a Sava Senior Care Facility? Take Action Now!
If you or someone you love was abused or neglected at a SavaSeniorCare nursing home, you must consider your next actions carefully. Reach out to our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys at 888-375-9998. You may also fill out the case evaluator form below to start the conversation if you prefer. All consultations are free; we are happy to help.
Disclaimer
*Each case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome or indicate an expected outcome on your particular case. The above prior lawsuit information is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice from an attorney. This individual case information above is publicly filed information gathered from the publicly filed complaint. This information and these cases are not the work of this law firm. The inspection results are provided from public government agency surveys. The state Department of Health conducts a survey of all nursing home facilities at least once every 15 months. The deficiencies listed on this page may have been corrected after the date of the inspection and date of publishing this material. Citations, ratings and deficiencies are current as of the date of this post and will change later on. The inspection findings published are not complete. You may find the most up to date information at medicare.gov. This material is not endorsed by the facility noted or by any governmental agency. Speak with an attorney immediately if you believe you have a viable case against a nursing home, assisted living facility or medical facility.
