Jury Awards $6M in Nursing Home Elder Abuse Death Case

Case Background

James Doherty, a 72-year-old man battling tongue cancer, entered Alameda Healthcare & Wellness Center in Alameda, California on May 13, 2022. He arrived with multiple health conditions including respiratory failure, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and heart disease. Over the next thirteen months, his family alleged that the nursing home failed to provide basic care, leading to his death on June 24, 2023.

His son, James Doherty Jr., filed a lawsuit against the skilled nursing facility and its management companies in November 2023. The case went to trial in Alameda County Superior Court, where a jury awarded $6 million in punitive damages on August 22, 2025.

Cause

The lawsuit claimed that Alameda Healthcare & Wellness Center neglected James Doherty by failing to turn and reposition him regularly, a basic care requirement for bedridden patients. Staff members knew he was at high risk for pressure ulcers because of his incontinence, weakness, and inability to move on his own. Despite this knowledge, the facility missed required repositioning sessions between 14% and 37% of the time throughout his stay.

The complaint alleged that this neglect caused Doherty to develop a severe pressure ulcer on his lower back. The wound progressed from a minor skin issue to a stage IV pressure ulcer, the most serious classification. By June 2023, the ulcer measured 10 centimeters long, 10 centimeters wide, and 2 centimeters deep. The wound became infected and caused sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection.

Injury

Doherty suffered a cascade of preventable injuries during his time at the facility. Shortly after his May 2022 admission, he fell. By June 2022, he developed his first pressure ulcer on his tailbone area. The wound briefly healed but returned in December 2022 when staff documented both a stage II and an unstageable pressure ulcer on his coccyx.

The facility never told his family about the worsening wound. In February 2023, Doherty fell again and was transferred to a hospital, where doctors found pressure ulcers on both heels and his right buttock. His condition continued to decline through spring 2023.

By May 2023, his sacral wound progressed to stage III, and within days it reached stage IV. When he was hospitalized on June 7, 2023, doctors discovered the massive infected wound along with deep tissue injuries on his left hip, shoulder, and elbow. The infection caused sepsis, and Doherty was too unstable for surgery. He returned to the nursing home on hospice care and died seventeen days later.

Damages Sought

The Plaintiff sought compensation for pre-death pain and suffering, general damages, special damages including funeral expenses, attorney fees, and punitive damages. The family also pursued remedies under California's Elder Abuse Act and the Resident's Bill of Rights.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

Plaintiff: James Doherty Jr. brought this action individually and as successor in interest to his father.

·       Counsel for Plaintiff: Anthony C. Lanzone | Christopher W. Petersen

Defendants: Alameda Healthcare & Wellness Center LLC | Rockport Administrative Services LLC | Boardwalk West Financial Services LLC.

·       Counsel for Defendants: Sean D. Cowdrey

Key Arguments by Counsel

Plaintiff's attorneys argued that the nursing home and its management companies operated as a single enterprise designed to maximize profits while minimizing care. They claimed Shlomo Rechnitz, identified as the ultimate owner, controlled the facility through multiple shell corporations. The facility paid $42,000 to Boardwalk West Financial Services for administrative services in 2022, and the Plaintiff alleged this arrangement siphoned money away from patient care.

The complaint documented a pattern of neglect. Staff created care plans requiring repositioning every two hours but failed to follow them. Between October and December 2022, staff missed roughly one-third of required repositioning sessions. Even after Doherty developed serious wounds, the facility continued missing 14% to 28% of repositioning requirements through June 2023.

The Plaintiff also alleged the facility concealed the severity of Doherty's condition from his family. Despite the wound progressing from stage II to stage IV over several months, staff never informed his son about the deteriorating wound.

Claims

The lawsuit presented four causes of action.

Elder Abuse and Neglect: The complaint alleged the Defendants consciously disregarded the substantial risk that withholding basic care would cause serious injury. The facility knew Doherty needed regular repositioning and skin monitoring but failed to provide it.

Violation of Resident's Bill of Rights: The Plaintiff claimed the facility violated multiple state and federal regulations, including requirements for adequate staffing, proper care planning, and pressure ulcer prevention.

Negligence: The lawsuit alleged the Defendants breached their duty of care by failing to prevent and properly treat Doherty's pressure ulcers.

Wrongful Death: James Doherty Jr. sought damages for the loss of his father's love, society, and companionship.

Defense

The Defendants denied all allegations and filed a general denial under California law. They raised 22 affirmative defenses including claims that third parties caused the injuries, that the Plaintiff's own negligence contributed to the harm, and that the claims were barred by statutes of limitations.

The defense also argued that any injuries resulted from the natural progression of Doherty's diseases rather than negligent care. They claimed the Plaintiff consented to the care provided and assumed all associated risks. Additionally, they challenged the Plaintiff's standing to sue and argued that not all heirs were joined in the wrongful death claim.

The Defendants also raised an arbitration defense, claiming Doherty or his family signed an agreement requiring disputes to be resolved through binding arbitration rather than Court proceedings.

Jury Verdict

On August 22, 2025, the jury returned a special verdict awarding punitive damages totaling $6 million.

Against Alameda Healthcare & Wellness Center LLC: $2,000,000

Against Rockport Administrative Services LLC: $4,000,000

The jury's decision to award larger punitive damages against Rockport, the management company, suggested they found that entity more culpable for the policies and practices that led to Doherty's death. Punitive damages are awarded to punish Defendants for particularly egregious conduct and to deter similar behavior in the future.

The verdict represented a significant finding that the Defendants acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, the standard required for punitive damages under California law. The jury's award indicated they believed the nursing home and its management company consciously disregarded the health and safety of an elderly; vulnerable patient entrusted to their care.

This case highlighted ongoing concerns about the quality of care in skilled nursing facilities and the accountability of management companies that control day-to-day operations while potentially prioritizing profits over patient welfare.

Court documents are available upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com