September 18, 2008

LOS ANGELES ELDER ABUSE LAWYER

Elder abuse is any form of mistreatment that causes harm or distress to an older person. There are several types of elder abuse that are universally recognized.

  • Physcial Elder Abuse: Physical elder abuse is when an abuser hits, punches, slaps, burns, or confines an elder. It includes battery, assault, and usually the abuser causes bodily harm to an elder.

  • Psychological Elder Abuse: Psychological abuse is when the abuser shouts, swears, frightens, ridicules, or humiliates an elder. These kinds of actions cause the elder mental or emotional anguish.

  • Financial Elder Abuse: Financial abuse is when the abuser illegally uses an elder’s property, money, or pension. Often these actions are followed by depriving the elder of his/her money and evicting them from the house.

  • Sexual Elder Abuse: Sexual abuse is when the abuser forces and elder to take part in any sexual activity without his/her consent.

  • Neglect: Another type of elder abuse is neglect. The abuser can deprive an elder of food, clothing, and housing.

Also, in some other countries denying the civil and constitutional rights of an elderly person might constitute elder abuse. There is not a lot of research concerning elder abuse because it has been given low priority. However, some research suggests that approximately 70 percent of elder abuse is against women. The research also suggests that the abuse increases with age.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of Elder Abuse, please call our law office now to speak with one of our experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorneys 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) or visit us at www.alawpro.com to learn more. The law office of Greenberg & Rudman LLP is here to help. Please call us now.

June 24, 2008

ESCONDIDO NURSING HOME SUED FOR WRONGFUL DEATH BY FAMILY OF ELDERLY RESIDENT. VICTIM HIT BY CAR.

A 94-year old resident of a nursing home in Escondido, CA was killed when she wandered out into the street and was hit by a car. Her son has filed a wrongful death suit against the nursing home. The woman, who was suffering from senile dementia, was a resident of the facility for more than 2 years. She died when she was hit by a car in a traffic lane a few hundred yards from the home. The lawsuit seeks over $25,000 in damages and alleges that the nursing home did not “supervise and ensure the safety” of the victim. Have you or a loved one been the victim of elder abuse or a car accident in Southern California? Please call 1-800-ALAWPRO now for a free initial consultation.

On Thanksgiving morning last year the senior victim left her nursing home and wandered into the street where she was killed. The elderly woman’s son stated that this was not the first time his mother had been allowed to leave the facility unattended. The wrongful death suit names the nursing home and the driver and car owner, but focuses primarily on the residential facility. Earlier this year the nursing home was fined $100,000 by the Department of Public Health for the woman’s death. The facility received a $100,000 fine two years ago for another wrongful death in which a resident was burned to death.

Have you or a loved one been the victim of nursing home neglect or elder abuse in California? If so, please contact the Law Firm of Greenberg & Rudman LLP for help. We have over 50 years combined experience in representing the rights of the injured. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) toll-free for a confidential initial consultation. Let us help you in your time of need by calling now.

June 8, 2008

ELDERLY MEN KILLED IN NURSING HOME FIRE. FAMILY SUES FOR WRONGFUL DEATH

Two seniors residents died and two others were injured in a fire at a nursing home last week. The family of one of the victims has sued the home for wrongful death, citing poor safety preparation and equipment. Elder abuse is the mistreatment of an older adult by a person or entity with which there is an expectation of trust. Abuse can be physical, financial, emotional or otherwise, and includes neglect and abandonment. Abuse need not be intentional, but it must cause the elderly victim harm or distress. If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of elder abuse in California, please contact an experienced attorney for help now by calling 1-800-ALAWPRO for your free consultation.

The men who were killed in the fire were roommates, and the fire began in their closet around 11pm. Officials stated that “smoldering smoking materials” may have been the fire’s cause; however, the investigation is ongoing. The residents of the nursing home were alerted as to the fire by “individuals banging on their doors and coming in their rooms.” Neither smoke alarms nor fire alarms awakened the residents. It is unclear if any attempt was made by staff members to enter the room where the fire originated.

fire2.jpgTwo adult children of one of the dead senior victims filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf their father, who was 67. The suit seeks an inquiry as to whether safety equipment at the nursing home, including smoke and fire alarms, was installed and working properly. The claim also alleges that nursing home staff was not sufficiently trained to cope with emergencies.

Have you or a loved one been the victim of elder abuse or wrongful death in California? If you suspect the answer is yes, please call a lawyer to get the help and the answers you need. At the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP we have over 50 years combined experience in serving the wrongfully killed and injured. Please let us help you in your time of need by calling 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential consultation. Help is on the way.

June 2, 2008

ELDER ABUSE LAWYERS: NEW FEDERAL RULE WOULD PROTECT ELDERLY FROM AGGRESSIVE INSURANCE AGENTS

Officials are proposing a new federal rule that would keep the elderly from being targeted by unlawful insurers. The rule would bar agents from selling private insurance to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in certain places and situations. Elder abuse comes in many forms, including harassment and financial abuse (such as scams, frauds, and schemes). This rule would protect older adults and their assets from people who would take advantage of them. Please see our website for more information on elder abuse and nursing home neglect. If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of elder abuse, please seek the help of an experienced and reliable attorney. In California, call 1-800-ALAWPRO to receive your free consultation now.

Due to agents’ questionable methods, many seniors are signing up for plans they neither want nor need. Federal healthcare officials are seeing a growing need to protect the elderly from being pressured by insurance agents using abusive marketing tactics. The new rule is designed to prevent a threatening or pressured environment. It would ban agents from the following sales tactics and interactions with the elderly and disabled:

  • Door-to-Door Sales

  • Cold-Calling

  • Selling their Products in Pharmacies or Hospital Waiting Rooms

  • Other Forms of Face-to Face Solicitation Uninitiated by the Consumer

stockxpertcom_id82634_nursinghome1.jpgThe proposal comes shortly after Medicare release of an update drug-care benefit plan. Lawmakers and healthcare officials are hoping more rules and laws such as the one proposed will be enacted to help combat the growing need to protect the elderly from abuse.

If you or someone close to you has been the victim of elder abuse in California, please call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP now. We have more than 50 years combined experience in fighting for the rights of the abused and injured. By calling 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) now, you will receive a free and confidential consultation about regarding your needs and your rights. Let us help you during this difficult time. Call now to speak with a personal injury lawyer free of charge.

May 26, 2008

ELDER ABUSE TESTIMONY BILL PASSED BY CALIFORNIA SENATE: HELPS LAWYERS PROTECT THE INNOCENT

A new bill protecting the rights of the elderly is awaiting approval by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger after having been unanimously passed by the California Senate. The bill, advocating special testimony for elder abuse victims, would authorize the use of two-way video conferencing in the courtroom. Due to poor health, safety or distance, many seniors are unable to appear in court to face their alleged abusers. The new bill offers a new and better way for older adults to be justly represented and served. Elder abuse can be the result of neglect in a nursing home, or physical, emotional, psychological and financial mistreatment. To learn more, visit our elder abuse webpage. If you or a loved one has been the victim of elder abuse in California, call 1-800-ALAWPRO now for your free consultation.

The elder abuse testimony bill, known as AB 1158, provides that if a witness is too infirm or too sick to appear in court for examination, he or she may appear live via 2-way video conferencing. The real-time appearance of elderly witnesses and victims of abuse is a crucial and necessary element in bringing elder abusers to justice. Without senior victim attendance in trials, criminals may go free with the potential to abuse again. The bill “ensures the testimony of victimized seniors against unexpected or unpreventable circumstances.”

stockxpertcom_id407344_oldwoman.jpgTo combat the devastating effects of elder abuse, Assemblyman John Benoit created AB 1158. The lawmaker is quoted in the California Chronicle as stating, "Elder abuse is a crime that must be taken very seriously and I’m proud that my colleagues have acted in concert to pass this important legislation. My bill permits the use of already-existing video conferencing technology that will allow elders to seek justice, while respecting the rights of the accused in a criminal trial." Additionally, the California District Attorneys Association, the California Senior Legislature, and the California Alliance for Retired Americans all support the bill.

Have you or a family member been the victim of elder abuse? Let an experienced Law Team defend your rights and seek justice for you now. At the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP, we have over 50 years combined experience in serving the needs of the abused and injured in California. Call us now at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential interview. We are here to help you now.