SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Lawyers have targeted San Francisco with a class action lawsuit alleging violation of the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act.
Three firms partnered for a May 2 lawsuit. They are Stebner Gertler, Walkup Melodia and Cotchett Pitre.
Staff at Laguna Honda Hospital engaged in "pervasive and widespread abuse" that include sexual and physical abuse and chemical restraints, the suit says.
"This conduct is not limited to the acts of a few employees who directly committed abuse against a few residents, but rather includes the recklessness and ratification of the hospital's officers and administration, who encouraged the abusive culture to fester for years without intervention," the suit says.
Documents obtained in related litigation show the first known abuse and neglect occurred in June 2016 and the behavior continues to date, the suit says.
The plaintiff in this case accuses the hospital of fondling his genitals, laughing at him and taking photos while he was naked, dropping him on the floor, unhooking a sling while hovering over a whirpool, intentionally injuring his foot by pressing it repeatedly, calling him an "ugly m*****f*****" and giving him sedatives for the purposes of restraint, among many other claims.
"This behavior demonstrates a culture of abuse and a disregard for patient dignity that is unacceptable at an institution entrusted to care for the elderly and siabled," the suit says.