Nursing Home Abuse and Mental Heath Care Abuse

The weakest among us deserve the most protection. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect of the elderly, the mentally retarded and the mentally ill who need to stay in long term health facilities occurs more often than we would like to think. This abuse can occur in private nursing homes, state facilities, local mental health facilities and group homes. If you would like to contact us about a possible nursing home abuse or mental health care abuse case, please click here.

Remember that each case is tried on its own merits, and that a successful result in one case does not guarantee a successful result in your case.

John Doe v. Autauga-Elmore Mental Retardation, et al.

Judgment of $5,000,000 (Autauga County Circuit Court, 2008). A mentally retarded man was sexually abused by his caregiver, Phillip Hamilton. Hamilton pled guilty to sexual abuse charges and was sentenced to five years in prison. Hamilton was employed by Autauga-Elmore Mental Retardation. Autauga-ElmoreMental Retardation paid an undisclosed amount to settle the claims made against it. The judgment entered against Hamilton included $1,000,000 in compensatory damages and $4,000,000 in punitive damages. The circuit clerk told the press that the award could be the highest ever in Autauga County. He said “if it’s not the highest, it has to rank among the highest. It’s certainly the highest I’ve seen...and I don’t recall ever hearing about a judgment that large before I came into office.”

Jane Doe v. Jefferson County Board of Education, et al.

Judgment of $3,000,000 (United States District Court for the Northern District of Birmingham, 2008). During 2004 and 2005, teacher Charles Andrews engaged in an inappropriate relationship with 8th grade female student Jane Doe. Andrews inappropriately touched, kissed, fondled and rubbed Jane Doe on school premises. He also sent her sexually explicit e-mails and notes. As a result of his conduct, Andrews was charged with first degree sexual abuse and eventually pled guilty to second degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced to a twelve month suspended sentence and twenty-four months unsupervised probation. He also was required to relinquish his teaching Andrews. A Federal judge subsequently entered a three million dollar judgment against Andrews. The judgment consisted of $500,000 in compensatory damages and $2,500,000 in punitive damages.

Eunice Dobson v. Confidential Defendant

Settlement of $935,000 (Randolph County). Eunice Dobson was a patient in a nursing home. She was raped while she was in the nursing home, and subsequently died as a result of the injuries sustained in the rape.

All Nursing Home, Student and Mental Health Care Abuse & Neglect