... or Take the Money and Run?
One week ago, in an article posted here, staffing standards for nurses at Nursing Homes was explored with a look at an ongoing case in Private Equity Strikes Back, posted here on March 21, 2025.
Standards at healthcare facilities continue to be of interest here, just as they are of interest to most people in the United States.
To be sure, cases go to trial on allegations involving inadequate staffing at healthcare facilities for which private equity may or may not be responsible. In Estate of Shea v. Meridian Senior Living, LLC,[1] the estates and relatives of deceased residents of an assisted living facility managed by Meridian Senior Living, LLC filed suit against Meridian on account of the residents' deaths. The case went to verdict on counts for alleged negligence and alleged violation of the Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
A jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs based on allegations of inadequate staffing and false advertising. The trial court entered judgment for the plaintiffs which was affirmed.[2]
[1] Estate of Shea v. Meridian Senior Living, LLC, No. 2023AP1462, 2025 WL 18229 (Wis. Ct. App. Jan. 2, 2025).
[2] The essential facts supporting the verdict and judgment are outlined by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in Meridian Senior Living, 2025 WL 18229, at ¶¶ 1-39, at pages *1-*10. For reasons unknown, when this opinion was initially issued, the appellate panel wrote that "[t]his opinion will not be published," Meridian Senior Living, 2025 WL 18229, ¶ 60, at page *14, although the caption bears a NOTICE that a final publication decision is pending.
Case law on these issues is set out in § 18C:6.50, Private Equity and Medicare, in Volume 2 of CATASTROPHE CLAIMS / INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS (Thomson Reuters November 2024 Edition, 2025 Supplements in process).
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