Jerry Vinkler tried a nursing home abuse and wrongful death case in April/May, 2014, to verdict, obtaining an award of $500,000.00 against the nursing home.
An 83 year old resident was on a tracheotomy tube which required constant monitoring, suctioning and cleaning. The Estate contended that the nursing home failed to properly monitor the resident, failed to suction the tracheotomy tube and allowed the development of mucus over a period of time which blocked the opening of the tube, depriving the resident of oxygen. This led to her death the next day.
The nursing home denied that the care was negligent and claimed that the monitoring was properly done, and that the mucus plug developed rapidly and there was nothing they could do.
The Defendant nursing home made no offer to settle the case prior to the trial, which lasted two weeks.
