In order to obtain compensation and compel corrective action, victims of nursing home abuse in California have a number of legal options. There are several options available, such as bringing legal action against the nursing home, reporting the abuse to the California Department of Aging, or making a police report and pressing charges. According to the statute, a "senior" is someone who resides in California and is at least 65 years old. As well as any California resident between the ages of 16 and 64 who has physical or mental impairments that limit their capacity to engage in daily activities.
There are several options available to people who think a family member is receiving abuse in a nursing home. People can:
Elders and their families are free to choose more than one option; neither is required.
In most lawsuits against nursing homes and/or its personnel, the plaintiff must establish three things:
Your California injury lawyer will typically need to file a lawsuit in order to gain "discovery" of the nursing home's records and information in order to prove the case. Your lawyer will analyze the case file, speak with prospective witnesses, and, if practical, the victim directly. Attorney may try to negotiate a settlement with the perpetrator outside of court because a trial can drag on for several years(s). If negotiation can't reach a fair settlement, a jury trial will be deciding the outcome of the nursing home lawsuit. Your attorney may ask the court for an injunction in addition to damages.
Investigations of elder abuse in California nursing homes involve a number of entities. An older patient who wants to file a complaint or a friend or family member usually do so with their neighborhood ombudsman's office. The "ombudsman" is a representative for persons residing in long-term care homes . The California Department of Aging is running The Ombudsman program in this state. The Ombudsman launches an investigation after receiving a report of elder mistreatment in a care facility. Any or all of the following topics may be discussed by the local ombudsman:
In most cases, the ombudsman will go to the nursing facility in question and conduct an on-site investigation. The California Department of Public Health receives the complaint if the Ombudsman determines after conducting its inquiry that it is a valid one. Following its investigation, this agency may:
If the individual filing the report of suspected elder abuse at a nursing home is a mandated reporter, s/he must file the report with both the local office of the ombudsman and a local police enforcement agency. Those who are required by law to report any suspected nursing home abuse are known as "mandated reporters". Nursing home staff and managers are required to be reporters.
Contact legal counsel right now. Your legal team needs time to build a strong case and conduct depositions since civil actions in California have a stringent statute of limitations. Please feel free to give our office a call at 310.943.1171.
California has a robust legal framework in place to protect vulnerable adults, including seniors, from abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elder abuse. Elder abuse is a serious issue that affects thousands of Californians each year, and it often goes unreported due to fear, shame, or lack of awareness. At KAASS LAW, we are committed to protecting the rights and well-being of our elderly community members. The following will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding and reporting elder abuse in California, empowering you to take action and help safeguard those who may be unable to protect themselves.
Elder abuse is defined as any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or serious risk of harm to an older adult. California law defines an older adult as anyone aged 65 or older
California has a growing senior population, and unfortunately, with that comes an increase in financial elder abuse and fraud targeting vulnerable older adults. At KAASS LAW, we are dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of seniors. The following will explore the issue of financial elder abuse and fraud in California, providing information on how to recognize, prevent, and address this growing problem.
Financial elder abuse or senior fraud can take different forms and can be committed by caregivers, family members, strangers, or any other people known to the elder. Financial abuse may have the same impact as physical abuse.
According to CACI 3100, in case the plaintiff claims that the defendant violated the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act by taking financial advantage of him, he must prove the following elements to establish this claim:
A Temporary Restraining Order, "TRO", is issued by a court which temporarily protects people from Civil Harassment, Workplace Violence, Domestic Violence, and Elder Abuse or Dependent Adult Abuse. A TRO directs the abuser to not contact and abuse the victim. It regulates and restricts the behavior of the abuser. A TRO is generally issued for 21 days. In some cases it can last a bit longer, usually until the abuser is served with the TRO. There are several types of Restraining Orders.
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders – Domestic Violence Restraining Orders require a special relationship between the parties such as: married or registered domestic partners, divorced or separated, dating or used to date, living together or used to live together, or persons closely related by blood such as parent, child, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, in-law.
Restraining orders are commonly referred to as "RTO"s. Being served with a restraining order can be stressful, especially if it is a domestic violence restraining order. In California, there are a few different types of restraining orders such as civil harassment, domestic violence restraining orders, restraining orders involving elder abuse, workplace violence, emergency protective orders, and criminal protective orders. Each type of restraining order has various components of which the person who filed the restraining order has the "burden of proof" in order to obtain the restraining order, the duration of the restraining order, and the legal elements required to prove in order to obtain that restraining order. The following tips may help you successfully defend a California restraining order action.
The first essential preparation for an effective restraining order defense is to carefully review the allegations made against you order to determine if those allegations do or do not apply to each element required for the particular order of protection being requested.
To successfully bring a wrongful death cause of action in California, the plaintiff typically must show the following: 1) The death of a human being; 2) Caused by another's negligence, or with intent to cause harm; 3) The survival of family members who are suffering monetary injury as a result of the death, and; 4) The appointment of a personal representative for the decedent's estate.
If someone dies due to the negligence or misconduct of someone else, the survivors or the decedent's estate may file a lawsuit for "wrongful death". A wrongful death claim is one when a person dies due to the legal fault of another person. The at fault party in wrongful death claims can be a driver at fault in a car accident, motorcycle-auto accident, or a medical professional that misdiagnosed or acted in a negligent manner that caused the death of another.
Wrongful death lawsuits is generally the personal representative of the decedent's estate, and may include a surviving spouse, children, or immediate family members. There are
The Elder Abuse Protection Acts focuses on protecting older adults by punishing perpetrators who exploit, abuse, and harm vulnerable seniors.
Elder abuse can occur in various forms such as, physical, mental, emotional, financial and even sexual. Often, the abuse is physical or results from neglect. The law recognizes that factors which contribute to abuse, neglect, or abandonment of elders and dependent adults are economic instability of the family, resentment of caretaker responsibilities, stress on the caretaker, and abuse by the caretaker of drugs or alcohol. Elder abuse can occur in cases involving nursing home negligence. Some of the type of injuries that may appear as:
A person must make a report as soon as possible by telephone, followed by a written report or Internet report through the confidential Internet reporting tool within two working days.
In case of physical abuse, and it has occurred in a long-term care facility, a person must make a to both law enforcement and the ombudsmen.
In case of serious bodily injury, the reporter must contact law enforcement within two hours and make a report to the ombudsmen within twenty-four hours.
The mandatory reporter has twenty-four hours to contact the ombudsman and law enforcement in case of less than serious bodily injury.
Elder abuse can take many forms, including:
Under California law, a mandatory reporter cannot be held civilly or criminally liable for a report of elder abuse made in good faith. Moreover, mandatory reporters do not have any legal duty to investigate the report of elder abuse. They are only obliged to make that report.
The mandatory reporter who fails to report physical abuse, financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction, or neglect of an elder will face:
The mandatory reporter who physical abuse, financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction, or neglect where that abuse caused great bodily injury or death of an elder will face:
In case the officer or an employee of a financial institution fails to report financial abuse, he will face
Recognizing the signs of elder abuse is crucial for intervention and prevention. Some common signs include:
California law designates certain professionals as "mandated reporters," requiring them to report suspected elder abuse. Mandated reporters include:
If you suspect elder abuse, it's crucial to report it immediately. Here's how:
Once a report is made, APS or law enforcement will investigate the situation. This may involve interviewing the elder, the alleged abuser, and other witnesses. If the investigation finds evidence of abuse, APS or law enforcement will take steps to protect the elder and may pursue legal action against the abuser.
California law protects individuals who report elder abuse in good faith from civil or criminal liability. This means that you cannot be sued or prosecuted for reporting suspected abuse, even if the investigation does not find evidence of abuse.
At KAASS LAW, we are dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of older adults. If you suspect elder abuse, we can help you understand your reporting obligations, navigate the legal process, and advocate for the protection of the elder. We can also provide legal representation to elders who have been victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Elder abuse is a serious issue, but it often goes unreported. Your report could make a significant difference in the life of a vulnerable elder. Contact KAASS LAW today for consultation. We're here to help you protect our elders. Additionally, if your family suffered from elderly wrongful death by a caregiver, we can help represent and help your loved ones.
The plaintiff can establish the defendant's illegal conduct by proving that he knew or should have reasonably known that his actions were likely to be harmful to the plaintiff. Such as, the defendant took, hid, appropriated, obtained, or retained the property in case the plaintiff was deprived of the property by an agreement, will, gift, or trust, regardless of whether the property was held by the plaintiff or by his representative. A representative is an individual or an entity, or that is either:
A false misrepresentation lawyer can take a look into your situation for you if you feel as though you need legal assistance.
According to California Civil Code Section 1575, undue influence is a misuse of a person's power and role to exploit the dependency, trust, or fear of another person in order to misleadingly gain control over that person's decision-making and obtaining an unfair advantage over him/her.
Recognizing the signs of financial elder abuse is crucial for intervention and protection. Some red flags include:
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself or your loved ones from financial elder abuse:
According to California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 15657.7 for financial elder abuse claims, the statute of limitations is four years. The statute of limitation beings to run from the time the plaintiff discovers the facts, constituting financial abuse, or when the abuse should have been discovered with reasonable diligence.
Civil remedies for elder financial abuse include:
At KAASS LAW, we commit to protecting the rights and well-being of seniors. If you or a loved one has been a victim of financial elder abuse or fraud, contact us today. We can help you understand your legal options and fight for the justice you deserve.
If you believe that you or someone you know have been a victim of elder financial abuse, we invite you to contact our Glendale elder financial abuse attorneys at (310) 943-1171, for a free consultation.
To obtain a domestic violence restraining order the victim must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the victim has suffered some type of abuse which could include bodily injury, including causing or attempted to cause bodily injury, sexual assault, or show that the victim has been placed in reasonable apprehension of receiving imminent serious bodily injury.
Workplace Violence – An employer may obtain a restraining order to protect an employee from being subjected to unnecessary violence and threats of violence at the workplace. The restraining order extends protection to certain family members or household members and other employees at the workplace.
Civil Harassment - Restraining Orders involving Civil Harassment(s) there does not need to be a special relation between the parties. A civil harassment restraining order is issued when a person is being subjected to stalking, threat of violent, sexual assault, or some kind of harassment, such as unlawful assault and battery or conduct that severely alarms, annoys, or harasses the other person and serves no legitimate purpose. Civil harassment restraining orders are usually issued between neighbors, roommate, friend, family member more than 2 degrees removed, like an aunt or uncle, a niece or nephew, cousins, and more distant relatives, or strangers. A few scenarios considered as "harassment" by the court include:
Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse – An elder or dependent adult may request a restraining order to seek protection against abuse. An elder is defined as anyone 65 years or older and a Dependent Adult is a person between the ages of 18 and 64 years of age that has disabilities that prevent that person from performing the normal activities in life. The restraining order may be filed for the elder or dependent adult by a conservator or a trustee of the elder or dependent adult, a guardian ad litem, or any person legally authorized to seek relief.
For a person to obtain a TRO in California, that person must go to court and fill out the required paperwork explaining to the judge what occurred and why that person needs a restraining order. This person can ask the judge to issue a Temporary Restraining Order without notifying the other party. Most judges are inclined to issue the Temporary Restraining Order if enough facts demonstrate the need for a restraining order. The Temporary Restraining Order is valid and in effect until the actual court hearing, which is scheduled three weeks after issuing the TRO. The person obtaining the TRO must have the court papers and TRO served on the other party within five days of the scheduled court hearing. It is after personal service the TRO is in full force and effect. This means there must be proof that the defendant was personally served with the TRO.
Hire the most dedicated Los Angeles restraining order attorney. Our attorneys at KAASS LAW are highly dedicated to help our clients in every way possible. You can rely on our experienced restraining order lawyer to carefully analyze the facts of your case to prove the facts necessary. Whether you would like to to have a restraining order filed against a person, or if you are in need of defense against a restraining order. We back all of our clients and we invite you to give us a toll free call at (310) 943-1171 to speak to our experienced restraining order lawyers today.
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If you are defending against a restraining order, you have to keep in mind that the court doesn't have all day to listen to your case and thus you must be prepared when you come into court. First, it is important that you prepare your evidence and bring them with you to court. You may bring declarations from other people that have personal knowledge of the facts that surround that basis of your restraining order, your own declaration, along with any photographs, videos, text messages, emails, or any other piece of evidence you intend to show to the court.
If you are also facing criminal charges which stem from the matter of which is the basis for the restraining order, keep in mind of your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. This means, if you testify during a restraining order trial, your testimony may and most likely will be used against you in the pending criminal case. Therefore, being mindful of the statements you make during court is very important. The prosecutors can request the transcript of your testimony from the restraining order hearing from the court, which may aid them in building their case against you in the pending criminal case. If you are in a situation where you face both criminal charges and a restraining order action, it is imperative that you seek legal help in order to insure the best possible outcome, as these types of criminal matters become extremely tricky.
Keep in mind that if the person that intends to file a restraining order against you, they are further legally obligated to have you personally served with the restraining order.
It is always wise to consult with an experienced local attorney who has vast experience in defending against restraining orders to discuss your various options. In order to ensure you have the best possible outcome and an effective defense is to have an experienced restraining order lawyer handle your case for you. Your restraining order lawyer will prepare a solid defense and attempt to persuade the court that the allegations asserted by the other party do not fit the definition of abuse.
Often times, defendants are not properly prepared for these type of hearings and almost immediately make damaging admissions that necessitate a restraining order be issued, even if the admitted activity was in fact innocent. Defending yourself against a restraining order can be difficult if all that you have are the statements made by the victim against your own word where there are no pictures or witnesses to support your side of the story. Further, if the person who filed the restraining order against you is represented by an attorney, it is even more imperative for you consider hiring a restraining order attorney immediately, as opposed to defending yourself If you were served with an restraining order or temporary restraining order, our knowledgeable restraining order attorney in Los Angeles, CA with KAASS LAW can help defend you. We are highly dedicating to serving the needs of all our clients. Call us at (310) 943-1171, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a free consultation tailored to the specifics of your case, our attorneys speak English, French, Spanish, Russian, Armenian, and Italian. You may also get directions to our law firm on Google Maps fast and easy.
In a California wrongful death lawsuit, the estate generally seeks compensation for the survivors' loss, such as financial support the decedent would have contributed to the family during the lifetime of the decedent or the plaintiff, loss of companionship, and funeral and burial expenses. The damages in wrongful death lawsuits are by "pecuniary and/or financial losses". Courts have interpreted "pecuniary injuries" as including the loss of support, services, medical and funeral expenses. Finally, a damage award may also include interest from the date of the decedent's death. Moreover, the estate of the decedent may also seek non-economic damages including loss of decedent’s love, companionship, loss of support, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, loss of the enjoyment of sexual relations, loss of decedent’s training, and guidance.
We invite you to contact our Glendale personal injury attorney today for a free consultation and case review. KAASS LAW has successfully represented victims in California wrongful death lawsuits. Call us at (310) 943-1171, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a free consultation tailored to the specifics of your case, our attorneys speak English, French, Spanish, Russian, Armenian, and Italian.
This content is intended for educational purposes only. KAASS LAW is authorized to practice law in California. The above content is intended for California residents only. This content provides only general information, which may or may not reflect current legal developments. KAASS LAW expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any of the contents of this website. The above content DOES NOT create an attorney-client relationship. KAASS LAW does not represent you unless you have expressly retained KAASS LAW in person at the KAASS LAW office. KAASS LAW helps clients in: Los Angeles, Burbank, Hollywood, Glendale, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Studio City, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Sunland, Tujunga, Sylmar, La Crescenta, La Canada, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Santa Monica, Brentwood. Pacoima, Montebello, Commerce, Alhambra, Downey, Bell, Maywood, Walnut Park, Vernon, Lynwood, Echo Park, Silverlake, Mission Hills, Northridge, North Hills, Porter Ranch, Chatsworth, Reseda, San Diego, La Jolla, El Cajon, Chula Vista, Del Mar
Common types of physical abuse include any unwarranted or unwelcome physical touching including:
California Welfare And Institutions Code §15600 provides legal protection and recourse for elderly who have suffered abuse under the Elder Abuse And Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act. The law recognizes that many elders and dependent adults who are at the greatest risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment by their families or caretakers suffer physical impairments and other poor health that place them in a dependent and vulnerable position. Elder is defined in the statutes as any person 65 years of age or older who is residing in California at the time of the alleged abuse. The term “abuse” is interpreted broadly and includes any of the following:
Neglect means that the care giver acted unreasonably by failing to exercise that degree of skill or render that level of care for which a reasonable person would exercise or render under similar circumstances. Under the Elder Abuse Protection Act, you or a loved one are entitled to compensation for any type of abuse, negligence or recklessness on the part of the nursing home facilities caregivers. Further, you or a loved one are entitled to file for damages against each healthcare provider who was involved in the abuse. It is best to seek assistance from an experienced California nursing home attorney. Often times obtaining evidence of abuse and bringing charges against the company or corporation which operates the nursing home can be almost impossible without specialized and experienced legal representation. If you believe that a loved one may be subjected to elder abuse and wish to file a claim, it is imperative to act quickly. There is only a certain amount of time during which you can file a case. The time limits are complicated and strictly enforced by the courts. If you think you have a valid claim, consult with one of our Glendale elder care abuse attorney as soon as possible.
An Glendale elder care abuse attorney can help you review your case and explain the steps that must be taken in order to bring action against the person, nursing home, rehabilitation center, or elder care facility. Speak to one of our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers experienced with elder abuse and nursing home negligence cases. We offer a free consultation and case review. Call our office at (310) 943-1171, our attorneys speak English, French, Spanish, Russian, Armenian, and Italian.
The California Welfare And Institutions Code §15600 provides legal protection and recourse for elderly who have suffered abuse under the Elder Abuse And Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act and provides that: (a) The Legislature recognizes that elders and dependent adults may be subjected to abuse, neglect, or abandonment and that this state has a responsibility to protect these persons. (b) The Legislature further recognizes that a significant number of these persons are elderly. The Legislature desires to direct special attention to the needs and problems of elderly persons, recognizing that these persons constitute a significant and identifiable segment of the population and that they are more subject to risks of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. (c) The Legislature further recognizes that a significant number of these persons have developmental disabilities and that mental and verbal limitations often leave them vulnerable to abuse and incapable of asking for help and protection. (d) The Legislature recognizes that most elders and dependent adults who are at the greatest risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment by their families or caretakers suffer physical impairments and other poor health that place them in a dependent and vulnerable position. (e) The Legislature further recognizes that factors which contribute to abuse, neglect, or abandonment of elders and dependent adults are economic instability of the family, resentment of caretaker responsibilities, stress on the caretaker, and abuse by the caretaker of drugs or alcohol. (f) The Legislature declares that this state shall foster and promote community services for the economic, social, and personal well-being of its citizens in order to protect those persons described in this section. (g) The Legislature further declares that uniform state guidelines, which specify when county adult protective service agencies are to investigate allegations of abuse of elders and dependent adults and the appropriate role of local law enforcement is necessary in order to ensure that a minimum level of protection is provided to elders and dependent adults in each county.