Nursing Home Faces $2 Million Verdict in Wrongful Death Case

An Albany, New York, nursing home was ordered to pay $2 million following a jury verdict that found it liable for the wrongful death of Roger Sanford, a resident who allegedly suffered neglect and poor care. Sanford’s daughter, Lori LaRock, filed the suit, claiming that the Albany County Nursing Home staff failed to provide essential care for her father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s and heart disease. She alleged that the facility was often understaffed, leading to instances where her father was left unattended, unshaven, and frequently soiled in his own waste.

In one particularly troubling instance, LaRock reported that after finding her father covered in urine, she was told by the staff that she would have to clean him herself as no caregivers were available. This lack of care, combined with a decline in Sanford’s health, culminated in his severe distress on March 1, 2018, when paramedics responding to LaRock’s 911 call found him alone without nursing staff assistance. Sanford passed away two days later​.

The Verdict and Claims

The federal jury awarded LaRock $1.5 million for her father’s conscious pain and suffering prior to death and an additional $500,000 for loss of life. The jury upheld LaRock’s claims under the New York State Nursing Home Bill of Rights against the nursing home. However, it rejected claims under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act against the facility’s executive director, Larry Slatky, and the nursing home itself, while finding certain staff, including supervisor Debbie Gossman and nurse Rhonda Lyga, liable for medical malpractice.

This significant verdict reflects the jury’s recognition of the serious neglect Sanford endured in his final days. LaRock’s attorneys, Ilann M. Maazel and Hannah Brudney of Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP, stated, “We are gratified that the jury has finally held Albany County, this home, and its employees to account for the horrific suffering and premature death of Mr. Sanford.”​

The Legal Arguments and Defense

LaRock argued that her father’s neglect was due to understaffing, lack of training, and poor management, claiming that the nursing home failed to uphold the expected standard of care. She described the facility as a “house of horrors,” asserting that staff often ignored her father’s medical needs, including feeding and essential treatments. According to her complaint, Slatky, the nursing home’s executive director, allegedly threatened that if LaRock raised her complaints to the state Department of Health, her concerns would “go nowhere.”

The defense, led by Kevin P. Burke of Burke Scolamiero Law Firm, contested these allegations, though representatives for the nursing home could not be reached for comment on the verdict​.

The Law Firms Involved

LaRock was represented by attorneys Ilann M. Maazel and Hannah Brudney of Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP, who have extensive experience in civil rights and personal injury cases. The nursing home was defended by Kevin P. Burke of Burke Scolamiero Law Firm​.

What’s Next?

This verdict could influence similar cases involving nursing home neglect, particularly those involving the Nursing Home Bill of Rights claims. For Albany County Nursing Home, the ruling may prompt reforms to staffing, training, and accountability standards to avoid future liability. For other families, this case underscores the potential for legal recourse in situations where care facilities fail to meet standards for their vulnerable residents.