$1.75 Million Recovery Secured by Dudensing Law for Family of Patient in Elder Neglect Case
October 15, 2025
Originally published by
dudensinglaw.com
Dudensing Law secured a $1.75 million recovery for the family of an elderly man who entered an assisted living facility in California for care and supervision but instead suffered repeated neglect, unnecessary drugging, and ultimately a preventable death.
The patient, who lived with dementia and arthritis, was admitted to the facility in December 2022 with clear needs for monitoring, fall prevention, and supervision. Within just days, he eloped from the building and crashed a car on the property—an incident the facility failed to document as required by law. Though later transferred to the facility’s memory care unit, staff allegedly relied on powerful sedatives and antipsychotics to keep him subdued rather than providing the attentive care he required. Over the next three months, he suffered numerous unwitnessed falls, hospitalizations, and deteriorating health.
In March 2023, he once again eloped from the facility, this time falling and striking his head outside. Staff did not notice his absence for hours. He died two days later from his injuries.
This settlement underscores that neglect, chemical restraints, and lack of supervision in long-term care facilities can have devastating consequences. At Dudensing Law, we remain committed to holding facilities accountable and securing justice for victims of elder abuse and their families.