Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $1.2M in Land Elder Abuse Case

Case Background

This civil action stemmed from a tragic event that resulted in serious harm, leading to the death of Karen Land. Her family Antwon Land, Michael Land, and Marcus Land brought the lawsuit against several parties, alleging their negligence and misconduct caused her injuries. The Plaintiffs, with Antwon Land acting as the successor in interest for his mother, Karen Land, had filed their initial complaint in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles, assigning the case the number 21STCV32725.

The core of the dispute centered on the alleged failures of the Defendants, including the County of Los Angeles, Case Management Integrated Solutions, and Noreen Hill (doing business as Haven Home), to uphold their duty of care. The Land family asserted that the collective actions and inactions of these entities created the circumstances that led to the decedent's injuries and ultimate passing. The legal proceedings culminated in a jury trial that focused primarily on the liability of the County of Los Angeles.

Cause

The Plaintiffs advanced multiple claims against the Defendants. The primary claim was Negligence, asserting that the Defendants failed to act with the reasonable care expected under the circumstances, directly contributing to the harm Karen Land experienced. A significant secondary claim involved Elder Abuse under the California Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 15657, which provided the legal framework for the family to seek additional remedies, including attorney's fees and punitive damages, though the latter was ultimately not applicable to the governmental entity, the County of Los Angeles. Other claims against various Defendants likely included general and professional negligence associated with the care and supervision Kar