$1.55 Million Settlement in Group Home Abuse Case

Attorneys Alan M. Feldman and Andrew K. Mitnick achieved a $1.55 million settlement for an intellectually disabled adult who sustained serious physical injuries when he was abused on at least two occasions by staff at a group home.

The first incident of abuse occurred when an employee punched him in the face while driving him to an appointment. The second incident was caught by a surveillance camera at the group home. An employee used unapproved methods of restraint and slammed him to the floor. The employee punched the client in the face and used a chair to pin the client to the wall.

Even though the client already had impaired vision in the left eye, the brutal incident caused a complete and permanent loss of vision. He required hospitalization and eye surgery.

Feldman and Mitnick were prepared to prove at trial that the for-profit corporation that operated the group home hired underqualified and unskilled employees for low wages and provided them with superficial and rushed training. The staff, which lacked the necessary skills, patience and compassion to care for developmentally disabled adults, did not truthfully report the abuse and instead blamed the client for self-injurious behavior.

All proceeds from the settlement will go to a Special Needs Trust to benefit the client and fund his future care.