Leitner Varughese comments on conviction of NY nursing home worker of criminally negligent homicide

NEW YORK - Aug. 14, 2015 - PRLog -- Leitner Varughese PLLC, a New York City and Long Island law firm whose attorneys have spent years fighting to ensure that the rights of nursing home residents are sufficiently protected, reports that a Suffolk County jury recently convicted a Medford nursing home respiratory therapist of criminally negligence homicide after the nursing home worker failed to attach a resident to a ventilator, which led to the woman's death. The crime is punishable by up to four years in prison. The daughter of the victim was reportedly told by nursing home workers that her mother had simply died of a heart attack. The jury of seven women and five men also found the therapist guilty of failing to report the circumstances surrounding the victim's death to state regulators. Prosecutors said the four women and a former director of therapy attempted to cover up the victim's death or their roles in her death by lying to investigators from the nursing home and the state Health Department. In a related case, a nurse's aide at the same facility recently pleaded guilty, admitting that she did not summon help even though she heard alarms that monitored the victim's vital signs sound on the night the patient died. According to Brett Leitner, one of the partners of Leitner Varughese, “we, as a society, entrust the care of our most vulnerable citizens, our elderly and infirm, to these nursing homes, and the nursing homes reap financial rewards and are accordingly charged with the duty to properly care for and to protect these citizens and to abide by the federal and state laws and regulations enacted exactly for this purpose. This case is a tragedy that could have, and should have, been prevented”. Justin Varughese, a partner and one of the firm’s principal trial lawyers, added that “Leitner Varughese is dedicated to advocating for the rights of nursing home residents throughout New York State and our firm will prosecute abuses to the fullest extent of the law and seek commensurate recovery from nursing homes based upon violations of the resident’s rights”. The Leitner Varughese Firm has recovered over $25 million on behalf of victims of nursing home abuse and neglect in just the last few years. About Leitner Varughese PLLC Leitner Varughese PLLC is a cutting-edge litigation and trial law firm uniquely experienced in handling high-profile, complex lawsuits involving serious injuries and wrongful death. The Firm has vast experience in handling cases involving Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect. In addition to handling these types of cases, Leitner Varughese PLLC routinely and successfully represents victims that have been sustained serious injuries caused by: • Construction Accidents • Medical Malpractice • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Trip / Slip & Fall Accidents • Labor Law Violations • Negligent Premises Security • Products Liability • Defective Drugs The attorneys of Leitner Varughese PLLC are routinely recognized for their efforts by their peers and media in publications such as National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, New York’s Top Verdicts and Settlements, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, and The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers. In addition, the attorneys of Leitner Varughese PLLC are regularly called upon to handle high-profile and newsworthy cases which have been featured in the New York Law Journal, the New York Post, Newsday, News 12, the LI Herald, and FIOS 1. The Leitner Varughese Firm has offices on Long Island and in New York City.

Media Contact Brett Leitner (855) 585-2969 ***@lvlawny.com

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