A Los Angeles area senior living community is considering its options after a jury awarded $5.5 million to a resident who reportedly fell, broke her neck and sustained head trauma while being walked down a hall by a staff member.
The plaintiff’s law firm, Stalwart Law Group, said the verdict for 89-year-old Sherril Phillips was the largest of its kind in city history.
“AvantGarde Senior Living of Tarzana is empathetic regarding this matter and is sympathetic to the resident and her family,” the community said in a statement issued to KABC-TV. “The facility is committed to providing excellent care to the community. As to this particular legal matter, it is still pending, so we cannot comment further at this time except to say that we are looking carefully at all of our options.”
Phillips moved to AvantGarde Senior Living in Tarzana, CA, on June 9, 2018, with mild dementia, according to her attorneys. On July 24, the law firm said, she had her first fall and was monitored for a concussion.
“The next day, as she was being walked down the hall by the activities coordinator, the staff member became distracted and left Sherril’s side,” the law firm said. “The resident’s walker hit the wall, and she fell, breaking her neck in three places and suffering head trauma.”
A security camera reportedly recorded the incident, after which Phillips was “incapable of having meaningful relationships with her family” and “will require care for the rest of her life,” according to the law firm.
