A jury in Polk County, Florida, has awarded the son of a woman who died at the Auburndale Oaks nursing home a total of $1.2 billion. The plaintiff was awarded $1 billion in punitive damages and $110 million in compensatory damages. This is the fourth multi-million verdict against the defendant in this case, Trans Health Care, Inc.

The woman’s son had moved her into Auburndale Oaks because she needed 24-hour care after she had suffered a debilitating stroke. During the trial, however, evidence was presented that showed the woman received very little to no care from the employees and staff at the nursing home. This resulted in the woman’s death, according to the lawsuit.

The woman, who was 69 years old when she died in 2007, had lived at Auburndale Oaks for six years. During that time, she had suffered no fewer than 18 falls, according to the plaintiff’s attorneys. One of those falls resulted in a broken hip, which was not diagnosed or treated for a week. The woman also suffered several severe infections, including cellulitis and Clostridium difficile. She was malnourished and dehydrated, had ongoing stomach pains due to fecal impaction and suffered from skin tears.

The evidence also showed that there was no one on the defendant’s Board of Directors who was even a health care official. This was part of the problem and resulted in the poor, if not abysmal, care that the residents received. Auburndale Oaks was not the only nursing home facility owned by Trans Health Care, Inc., but one of many owned by the nursing home chain.

The woman who died had spent her life taking care of others, as she was a nurse and in her later years, took care of the needs of those in nursing homes.

If you believe your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact an experienced Florida personal injury attorney. Your attorney can help stop the abuse and your loved one may be entitled to financial compensation for pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, medical expenses and other claims.

Source: wtsp.com, – Kristin Weber, July 25, 2013