ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Pursuing Persons Who Steal From Elders
Prosecuting All Forms Of Elder Abuse
Notable California DOJ 2021 Prosecutions
California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta made prosecution of elder abuse a leading priority of the California Department of Justice during his first years as California’s AG. Attorney General Bonta also pushed for important State and federal legislation to battle elder abuse. Evans Law Firm, Inc., through the work of its founder Ingrid M. Evans has elder abuse as a cornerstone of its plaintiff’s practice. We represent victims and their families against the perpetrators of all forms of elder abuse: financial, physical, sexual, emotional, and victims of neglect or abuse in nursing homes and other care facilities. We pursue all persons or businesses responsible for any abuse and seek all available remedies to victims and their families including awards of attorneys’ fees and costs for bringing a suit under Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 15657 and 15657.5. If you yourself or an older loved is suffering any kind of elder abuse, including financial abuse, here in San Francisco or anywhere throughout California, call us today at (415)441-8669. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
California Department of Justice Leading 2021 Prosecutions
In a recent announcement by Attorney General Bonta, he highlighted the following important prosecutions[1] that occurred over the last year:
- Two care facility staffers were sentenced for stealing approximately $272,000 from an elderly resident at a care facility located in Escalon, CA. An investigation by the California Department of Justice revealed that a facility administrator convinced the victim to provide checks totaling over $272,000, to which she had no right collecting. The other defendant allegedly assisted with the theft by allowing large amounts of stolen money to be deposited into her bank accounts. The victim subsequently passed away from serious health issues. In her final will and trust, the victim requested to donate 50% of the proceeds of her estate to Doctors Without Borders USA, and 50% to Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California. The defendants’ fraudulent actions significantly deprived the victim of these final wishes.
- 14 individuals connected with a hospice program were accused of stealing more than $4.2 million from the federal Medicare and state Medi-Cal programs. The hospice program allegedly. enrolled patients who were not terminally ill into hospice care, many of whom told investigators that they were enrolled without their knowledge or understanding of what hospice was.
- The State secured a guilty verdict against a certified nursing assistant and caretaker for elderly and dependent persons, for sexually abusing an elderly dependent. Following a jury trial in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, defendant was found guilty of two counts: one count of misdemeanor elder abuse and one count of felony sexual battery on an elderly or dependent adult. According to the AG’s complaint, the defendant sexually abused one dependent resident after escorting her to the restroom.
- Two caregivers were sentenced in connection with the death of an elderly resident of an unlicensed care facility. According to the complaint, the victim developed a severe pressure ulcer, suffered bruises and lacerations all over his body, and developed acute bronchopneumonia. After the defendants failed to seek medical care for the victim, he ultimately passed away from his condition. All three of the defendants were criminally charged for willfully neglecting the victim’s deteriorating health. In addition to the two individuals sentenced, the third defendant remains at large and authorities are investigating his current whereabouts.
Contact Us
If you sense any kind of abuse of an older loved one, call us right away. Ingrid M. Evans has years of experience in representing seniors and their families against abusers of any kind, including in-home caregivers. You can reach us at (415) 441-8669, or by email at info@evanslaw.com. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in any of these cases.
