Family of Diseased Mother Awarded $54M
July 10 , 2007
On June 28, the Albuquerque State District Court ruled that ManorCare Inc., was responsible for the death of a 78-year-old woman due to neglect.
The $54 million awarded in the nursing home case will go to the woman’s daughter Lori Keith who fought for justice to be served since her mother’s 2004 death.
The Accusations
When Keith received a phone call from the nursing home a week before her mother, Barbara Barber, was to return home under her care, she says she knew something was wrong.
Court reports filed by Keith’s attorney Carl Bettinger claim that the home tried to cover up the woman’s death by immediately changing the sheets and removing all the items in her room.
The jurors concluded that ManorCare was responsible for Barber’s neglect and death and, in one of the biggest settlements in history, awarded Keith $54 million.
Bittersweet Victory
Keith says that although she is happy with the outcome, all she really wanted from the suit was an admission of guilt for her mother’s sake.
“It was a pretty nasty process, the whole thing, but I stuck with it. I had wonderful attorneys that stuck by me,” said Keith. “Now I just want to grieve for my mom. I haven’t really been able to do that.”
ManorCare has since closed all of its homes in New Mexico.
(Source: The Albuquerque Tribune)
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