A nursing home in Ormond Beach, Florida, has been fined $36,000 by the state. The fine is in response to allegations that the nursing home failed to report a possible sexual assault.

The sexual assault allegedly occurred in January 2012, according to state records. A woman who was a resident the Avante nursing home told her husband that she witnessed an employee climb into bed with her roommate. The director of nursing at Avante did not hear of the possible assault until the woman’s husband had packed up his wife’s belongings and wheeled her out of the nursing home. He said he was able to provide better care for her at their home.

The staff at Avante tried to investigate the allegation; however, that is in direct violation to the mandatory abuse reporting law in Florida. The Ormond Beach Police Department also investigated the case, but no charges were ever filed. The roommate has denied that any assault occurred, although the state report into the incident suggests the resident might have been too scared to tell anyone — especially the staff — what happened that night.

If someone you love is in a nursing home or similar facility, and you believe he or she may have suffered due to someone’s negligence, report such incidents to law enforcement. In addition, contact an experienced personal injury attorney so those responsible can be held financially accountable as well.

Source: wftv.com,”Nursing home fined $36,000 for failing to report alleged sexual assault,” Ihosvani Rodriguez, April 19, 2013.