A Lackawanna County jury has awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages to the estate of Mildred Bernavage, a woman who broke her hip in a fall at a Scranton nursing home in 2018. The verdict was issued against Green Ridge Care Center and its corporate owner, Saber Healthcare Group. This is an addition to the $300,000 in compensatory damages that a different jury awarded to Bernavage’s family last April. The lawsuit, filed in 2019 by Bernavage’s daughter Carolyn Vanston, claims that she broke her hip during a fall in the shower. Vanston stated that during an improper transfer, the nursing home staff worsened her mother’s injury.
In March 2020, Bernavage sadly passed away, though her death was found to be unrelated to the fall. The jury from the April trial determined the nursing home was negligent, compensating the family for her pain and suffering. The jury then concluded that the facility acted with “reckless indifference,” which allowed Vanston to charge for additional punitive damages. The attorney representing the family said the punitive trial was delayed so they could gather financial data on Saber Healthcare. The delay was because juries can consider a defendant’s financial ability when deciding on punitive damages.
On September 5th, a new jury was selected to handle this part of the trial. After four days of testimony, they reached a verdict. The attorney then emphasized that Saber Healthcare demonstrates a pattern of improper patient transfers. A claim has been made that this had been going on for months when Bernavage was unfortunately impacted. A fellow firm attorney emphasized that the case sets a precedent for local nursing homes. They underline that safety protocols should not be neglected, and Saber Healthcare has yet to comment on the ruling.
Scranton Elder Abuse Attorneys: Making a case for justice
If you know of someone who has been injured or neglected while a resident of a nursing home or long-term care facility, have them contact the lawyers at DLP who have been representing nursing home abuse victims for over forty years. A Lackawanna County jury has awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages to the estate of Mildred Bernavage, a woman who broke her hip in a fall at a Scranton nursing home in 2018
