Our Results

When your loved one has been injured, neglected or abused in a nursing home or assisted living facility, the attorney you choose should be experienced in handling what could become a complex case.

The attorneys of Shrager, Spivey & Sachs have defended victims of nursing home abuse for over a decade. We have a proven track record of winning and settling abuse and neglect cases, and we are the most experienced professionals in the field.

Some of our most successful cases include:

Seven-Figure Settlement for Dementia Patient's Fall Down Laundry Chute

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of a 77-year-old nursing home resident who had been admitted to a nursing home because of his significant Alzheimer's symptoms. The nursing home was a non-profit facility run by a faith-based organization. On the evening of our client's fall, the nursing home staff failed to observe him when he left his bed - which had a "bed alarm" - wandered down the hall, gained admission to a supply closet that was allegedly secured with a cipher lock, opened a laundry chute, and fell three stories to the basement of the facility. Amazingly, our client's underlying good health allowed him to survive for nearly six months - despite his obvious excruciating pain - after this massive trauma. This case was significant because the nursing home, despite the apparent public-spiritedness reflected in their mission statements, sought to enforce an onerous, binding arbitration clause, which would have thrown our client's case out of court. Private arbitration would have forced our client's family to pay substantial filing and handling fees, and, most distressingly, would have forever precluded our client's family from having his case heard by a jury of fellow Philadelphians. Attorneys Sachs and Gavin fought the arbitration clause, prevailed in a motion argued before the trial court, and were in the course of defending this trial court victory in the Pennsylvania Superior Court when the matter was resolved. If you or a loved one are considering a nursing home or assisted living facility, make sure to consult with a lawyer before signing an arbitration clause that will contractually eliminate your right to a jury trial under the Seventh Amendment.

Six-Figure Settlement for Failure to Prevent Nursing Home Resident's Death from Numerous Falls

Elder abuse lawyers Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of an elderly woman against a local nursing home. She suffered dementia with behavioral disturbances including delusions, glaucoma resulting in impaired vision, diabetes mellitus, deep venous thrombosis, and depression. She had multiple falls because she was provided the necessary fall precautions and supervision required to keep her safe. The last fall resulted in a fractured hip, which led directly to a decline in her condition and eventually contributed to her death. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

Six-Figure Settlement for Death of Nursing Home Resident from Failure to Administer Prescribed Diuretic

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of an elderly woman who had been taking diuretics for years. Our client was admitted to a nursing home under a rehabilitation admission following a hospital stay. The goal at all times was for her to return home after her rehabilitation was completed at the nursing home. In complete disregard for her health and well-being, the nursing home failed to provide the necessary level of nursing care, and even failed to give our client the diuretic she had been taking for 20 years. The failure to properly monitor our client and give her the necessary medications caused her to suffer a significant decline that resulted in her death. The terms of the settlement are confidential.  

Six-Figure Settlement for Death of Over-Medicated Resident

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin  represented the estate of an 80-year-old woman in a lawsuit against an assisted living facility - ALF - and a private physician in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Shortly after admission to the ALF, our client was slightly agitated after moving out of her primary residence of 35 years. The ALF staff called a physician, who had never examined our client, and asked him to prescribe Seroquel, a potent anti-psychotic. Just two weeks later, when our client wouldn't stay in her wheelchair - she had never been wheelchair-bound before moving into the ALF and being given Seroquel - the same nursing staff at the ALF again called the physician and asked for a prescription of Ativan. Again, without ever seeing our client, the physician prescribed the added drug. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin argued throughout the case that the combination of medications were "chemical restraints" which led directly to our client's fall, hip fracture, and death shortly thereafter. 

Six-Figure Settlement for 98-Year-Old Dropped from Hoyer Lift at Nationwide Nursing Home Chain

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin from Shrager, Spivey & Sachs successfully represented the estate of a 98-year-old nursing home resident who sustained a hip fracture and head injury when she was dropped during a "transfer" using a Hoyer lift. Sadly, the nursing home staff knew that our client was supposed to have two people handle every transfer, but on the day of the incident, a nursing home employee tried to move our client without seeking the help of a second person. Not surprisingly, our client was dropped and suffered from injuries that caused her health to decline and, ultimately, her death six months later. The elder abuse and neglect team at Shrager, Spivey & Sachs argued that the national nursing home chain had put profits over people and allowed the facility to be understaffed, which in essence forced the staff to attempt resident care tasks in an unsafe manner. The terms of the settlement are confidential.  

Six-Figure Settlement for 97-Year-Old's Fractured Pelvis

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of a Lebanon County, Pennsylvania assisted living resident who fell twice and suffered a pelvic fracture. Her injury completely restricted her ability to move about freely and caused pain through the remaining 15 months of her life. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin were able to secure a six-figure settlement following an all-day mediation with national counsel for the assisted living facility.  

Six-Figure Settlement for Failure to Treat 90-Year-Old's Infection

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of a 90-year-old nursing home resident who had lived in the for-profit defendant nursing home for six years before the events which took her life. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin argued that the nursing home's failure to keep a sterile and clean environment led directly to the infection from which our client passed away. In addition to the lack of sterility, the nursing home staff failed to timely recognize that our client had an infection, a delay in administering proper treatment that allowed the infection to worsen and ultimately lead to her death.  

Six-Figure Settlement Against Hospital for Pressure Ulcer

Rob Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the family of a 64-year-old man who was hospitalized in a major Philadelphia hospital for cardiac surgery. After life-saving surgery, the hospital nurses failed to properly turn and reposition the man as needed to protect his skin from breaking down. Due to his medical condition and the nature of the surgery, our client was totally dependent on the hospital's nurses for such care. Our client developed a Stage IV decubitus ulcer - the worst kind of pressure sore - that caused terrible pain. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

Six-Figure Settlement for Family of 82-Year-Old Woman

Chad Galvin represented the estate of an 82-year-old woman who was an assisted living facility resident. She fell three times in a period of three months, with the final fall resulting in a fractured hip. Attorney Galvin argued that the woman required more care than the facility could offer – but that the facility admitted her nonetheless. Due to her lack of supervision and care, she was able to fall – and remain there for an extended period of time. The final fall and resulting hip fracture led to her death, and Attorney Galvin was able to secure a confidential settlement for her family.

Six-Figure Settlement for Failure to Diagnose

Robert Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of an 87-year-old man who fell and fractured his hip in a nursing home. He was transferred to a hospital where an X-ray technician failed to diagnose the seriousness of his injury. He was discharged back to his nursing home, where he demonstrated all the symptoms of massive internal bleeding, which was caused by the untreated hip fracture. Staff at the nursing home ignored the man’s symptoms until he was found unresponsive. He was finally transferred to a different hospital, where he died from his injuries. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin were able to secure a confidential settlement for the man’s family.

Six-Figure Arbitration Award for Nursing Home Neglect

Chad Galvin represented the estate of a 74-year-old man who suffered neglect in a nursing home. He required extensive assistance with daily living activities, including getting into and out of bed, turning and positioning to relieve pressure, hygiene, toileting and feeding. Because of his inability to complete daily activities without assistance, he was at considerable risk for skin breakdown or pressure sores. Staff at his nursing home, however, failed to provide any protective measures against skin breakdown. As a result, the man developed several pressure sores, including one which continued to deteriorate and become infected with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, and gangrene. He eventually had to have his leg amputated. Attorney Galvin represented the man’s son, and arguing that the nursing home’s neglect led to pain, suffering and amputation, he was able to secure a significant six-figure award.

Six-Figure Settlement for Hospital Fall

Robert Sachs, Chad Galvin and Mike McGuckin represented the estate of an 82-year-old man who was admitted to a hospital with complaints of pain, confusion and difficulty walking. The hospital poorly evaluated the man and failed to realize the high risk he presented. Unsupervised, he was allowed to fall and suffer serious and painful injuries that led to his death. His autopsy found blunt force chest trauma that included seven fractured ribs. Attorneys Sachs, Galvin and McGuckin were able to secure a significant confidential settlement for the man’s family.

Six-Figures for Fall from Chair

Robert Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of an 86-year-old woman who fell from her wheelchair in a hospital. After being admitted to the hospital for life-saving surgery, she was left to wait in a chair for eleven hours. Her chair was not equipped with a chair alarm to alert staff when she attempted to walk without assistance. After falling and fracturing her hip, her initial surgery was put off until her hip healed. She eventually died waiting for her intended surgery, and Attorneys Sachs and Galvin were able to secure a six-figure settlement for her family.

Six-Figure Settlement for Severe Nursing Home Neglect

Robert Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of a 74-year-old woman who was chronically ill with end-stage lung cancer. During her ten months at a nursing home, she suffered severe pressure sores, dehydration, poor nutritional management, infection, poorly managed pain, poor hygiene, contractures and continual abuses to her well-being and dignity. She finally died as a result of sepsis, acute renal failure and cancer. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin were able to secure a confidential settlement for her family.

Six-Figure Settlement for Nursing Home Neglect Death

Robert Sachs and Chad Galvin represented the estate of a woman who died in a nursing home as a result of neglect and abuse. She was dropped by staff who tried to move her from a bed to a chair without assistance, ignoring directives that she be moved by two people at all times. After she was dropped, staff failed to request a post-fall medical evaluation for any injuries. She was promptly placed back in bed – but with broken thigh bones in both legs. Her cries of pain and pleas for help were ignored for nine hours. She was finally sent to a hospital where her broken legs were diagnosed. Hospital staff sent her back to the nursing home with clear instructions for her care, which were ignored by nursing home staff. Without ever receiving pain medication or special attention, she died the next morning as a result of complications from her injuries. Attorneys Sachs and Galvin argued that the nursing home was understaffed and poorly trained. Specific terms of the settlement are confidential.

The results set forth above are included for representative purposes only and should not be construed as a promise or warranty of future results. The facts of every case are unique, and the actual result in your case will depend on a variety of factors.

 

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