In February 2022, Jack Tribble entered assisted living at The Palmettos of Bluffton owned by NHC. He was suffering from dementia. Jack’s family thought he would be safe at the skilled care facility.
On August 23, 2022, the worst happened. A construction worker allowed Jack to leave the facility through a series of passcode-protected doors and out of the building. Video surveillance showed Jack walking, but NHC staff failed to realize that he was missing for hours.
Authorities found Jack’s body two weeks later, a half-mile away from where he was last seen walking near Highway 170. An autopsy revealed he died from environmental exposure.
Rikard & Protopapas is representing Jack’s family in a wrongful death claim, seeking answers and compensation for his pain and suffering and for his family’s loss. The case is filed in Beaufort County Court.
“Nursing homes must keep track of their patients,” said an attorney at Rikard & Protopapas representing the family. “Our investigation revealed that previous assessments noted Jack’s history of wandering and wanting to leave the facility. The nursing home staff failed to protect Jack. The result was a devastating loss of life. It could have been prevented.”
Rikard & Protopapas represents nursing home abuse and neglect victims. Assisted living facilities have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to keep residents safe. If they fail in their duty, they may have legal liability to pay compensation when harm occurs.
If you or a loved one has been a victim, you may qualify to claim financial compensation. To learn more, contact our Columbia nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys.