$8 million recovery secured by Dudensing Law in elder neglect case involving leg amputation
July 23, 2026
Originally published by
dudensinglaw.com
Dudensing Law secured an $8 million recovery for the family of a man who lost his leg after a California skilled nursing facility failed to monitor a known vascular condition.
The patient was admitted for six weeks of intravenous antibiotics to treat a spine infection. He had a documented history of peripheral vascular disease, including two prior bypass surgeries, and his doctors had ordered blood thinners to protect his circulation. The facility’s own care plan promised to monitor him for signs of vascular complications, but staff never checked his pulses, skin color, or circulation, despite the patient reporting leg pain on at least 25 of his 28 days at the facility.
His leg began showing signs of a medical emergency, including cold skin and a loss of pulse, roughly two days before staff responded. Family members raised concerns about how the leg looked, but the facility did not act until the following day. By the time the patient reached a hospital, doctors found the leg had lost blood flow and could not be saved. Surgeons amputated it above the knee days later.
The patient spent nearly three weeks in inpatient rehabilitation. He now lives with chronic pain, a limited ability to walk, and a daily need for assistance he did not require before his stay at the facility.
This recovery underscores the danger when nursing facilities fail to monitor patients with known medical risks. Dudensing Law remains committed to holding nursing homes accountable and seeking justice for families impacted by elder neglect and abuse.