Downey nursing home sued after allegations of patient attack

Google image

DOWNEY – An allegedly violent incident between two patients has Lakewood Park Health Center facing a lawsuit for elder abuse, negligent hiring and supervision, and assault and battery. 

The lawsuit was filed by Garcia, Artigliere & Medby.

According to the official complaint submitted to the Superior Court of California, a Lakewood Park resident by the name of Thomas Talley was attacked by another resident on or about June 23. Allegedly, the attacker entered Talley’s room in the middle of the night as he slept, and violently attacked his head and face using his fists and a metal object. 

Talley sustained several injuries. 

According to a press release sent to the Downey Patriot by the law office, the health center had prior knowledge that another resident in the center “had violent propensities and aggressive behavior, as well as hostility towards Talley.”

The press release includes several accusations, including that the health clinic did not properly conduct room and body checks at designated intervals, nor provide Talley with a room near the nurse’s station where he could be monitored. 

In addition, the release also states that staff failed to contact Talley’s physician to obtain an order to send him to a hospital for evaluation after the attack.

“By withholding required care from Thomas, the facility subjected him to a violent physical assault, resulting in severe injuries to his face,” said attorney Stephen Garcia. “The facility apparently made a choice not to do anything about the known hazards of its aggressive and dangerous resident population, and staff failed to protect not only Thomas but the remainder of the elder and infirm residents it promised to protect. 

This is just unacceptable behavior on the part of Lakewood Health Center.”

Lakewood Park did not respond to a call for comment.