Colorado State Jury Awards $ 5.5 Million To Family Of Patient Who Died At Nursing Home
On April 30, 2013, Sophia Maria Alcon, 77, became a resident of South Pueblo Medical Investors, Ltd. d/b/a Life Care Center of Pueblo, a nursing home in Colorado. While a resident there, she sustained several injuries, including urinary tract infections, bed sores, dehydration, malnutrition and weight loss, bruising, severe pain, aspiration pneumonia, dried *** packed into her vagina, poor hygiene, and death. Life Care Center was allegedly on notice from the State of numerous deficiencies in patient care during the time before and during Alcon's stay there.
On Jan. 15, 2015, Alcon's son, George Alcon, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Sophia Maria Alcon, filed an action in the District Court, Pueblo County, Colorado against Life Care Center; Life Care Centers of America, Inc.; Developers Investment Company, Inc.; Terrie Stanton-Nance, in her capacity as Administrator of Life Care Center of Pueblo; and Roschelle Lucero, in her capacity as Administrator of Life Care Center of Pueblo. In the amended complaint filed on March 29, 2016, plaintiff asserted claims for negligence for breach of the standard of care of nursing homes and certified nursing aides; for violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, C.R.S. $ S 6-1-101 et seq., by providing false and deceptive promises and representations regarding the quality of care and services that it provided; and for wrongful death. Plaintiff sought damages for economic and non-economic loss, attorney fees, costs, interest, punitive damages, and other relief. On April 12, 2016, defendants filed an answer to the amended complaint generally denying the allegations. Defendants asserted affirmative defenses including failure to state a claim, statute of limitations, failure to mitigate, intervening conduct, superseding causes, and other assertions.
The action proceeded to a jury trial. On May 13, 2016, the jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff of $ 5,557,066.43, including $ 5,000,000 in punitive damages for wrongful death.
For more information on the case, including counsel and expert information, please see the complete summary on Lexis Advance: George Alcon, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Sophia Maria Alcon, v. South Pueblo Medical Investors, Ltd. d/b/a Life Care Center Of Pueblo; Life Care Centers of America, Inc.; Developers Investment Company, Inc.; Terrie Stanton-Nance, in her capacity as Administrator of Life Care Center of Pueblo; and Roschelle Lucero, in her capacity as Administrator of Life Care Center of Pueblo; 2016 Jury Verdicts LEXIS 3074
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