A Florida assisted living community facing the loss of its license negotiated with state regulators to sell the community instead and to pay a fine of $47,000. Ties between the new and former owners, however, have some questioning whether the sale meets the terms of the deal. The local newspaper is calling the settlement “controversial.”

The Sun Sentinel reports that the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration had accused the 170-bed Grand Villa of Delray East, Delray Beach, FL, of deficiencies in the areas of staffing, training and dining services, as well as neglect related to two resident deaths. In January, the community was prohibited from accepting new residents.

The community is now owned by Delray Beach Villa LLC, which in turn is owned by The Adult Care Group Inc. The Adult Care Group is managed by John Piazza, father of Steven Piazza, who is president of Senior Management Advisors, which provided management and consulting services to Grand Villa during the time of its violations. Steven Piazza previously had served as vice president and director of The Adult Care Group. Further, Senior Management Advisors’ finance director, Timothy Barnes, formerly was listed as a registered agent for The Adult Care Group and management company Adult Care Management.

John Piazza told the Sun Sentinel that the community has a new executive director and resident care supervisor, as well as new nurses and managers. Other steps have been taken to improve safety and quality of care, he added. John Piazza also told the media outlet that Senior Management Advisors has not and will not be involved in the day-to-day management of the community.

Read the Sun Sentinel article here.