Chain Sued for 25,000 California Nursing Home Complaints

In June 2025, Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a sweeping California nursing home abuse lawsuit against Sweetwater Care, a chain based in Carlsbad that’s accused of committing more than 25,000 violations, including abuse and neglect.

A lengthy investigation by the California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse reportedly uncovered a deliberate pattern of understaffing that resulted in severe resident neglect and harm.

Through the end of 2023, Sweetwater received more than $196 million in taxpayer-funded Medi-Cal payments to help staff the facility and provide care for residents. Instead, the company kept millions, allowing conditions to worsen.

“Sweetwater and its skilled nursing facilities violated the law and betrayed the trust of communities by failing to safeguard the health and safety of its residents. This is simply unacceptable.”
– California Attorney General Rob Bonta

While it may seem like just a push for profits, it’s important to remember it’s the residents who suffer real harm when chains cut corners to fill their own pockets. They deserve to be treated humanely, and these facilities are legally obligated to provide safe and timely medical care.

If you or a loved one was harmed in a nursing home, you may be able to take legal action to pursue the justice and compensation you deserve. Get a free case review now to see if a top nursing home abuse lawyer can fight for you.

Sweetwater Care’s 25,000 Nursing Home Violations in California

According to state officials, Sweetwater Care consistently operated its facilities below the legally required staffing levels from 2020 to 2024, even as residents suffered from alarming levels of neglect.

When the state provided nearly $200 million in funding to improve patient care and meet staffing requirements, Sweetwater allegedly kept more than $31 million in profits and “management fees.”

Under California’s Unfair Competition Law, Sweetwater could face civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation. Those penalties are doubled if violations were committed against elderly or disabled individuals, which could dramatically increase the company’s financial liability.

Half of the penalties would be directed to San Diego County, where Sweetwater is headquartered. The other half would go to the state’s general fund.

Patients Suffered Abuse & Neglect

Patient reports of nursing home abuse were central to the state’s findings, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The California DOJ claims these are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a widespread failure to meet basic care standards.

Nursing home complaints described troubling scenarios, including:

Bedsores so severe that one patient’s hip bone was exposed
Delayed responses to urgent medical emergencies
Fractured bones that went days without medical evaluation
Residents left for long periods in soiled diapers
Unwitnessed falls with no documented follow-up

The state’s complaint further alleges that Sweetwater’s corporate leadership was fully aware of the unlawful staffing levels and the risk they posed, but chose not to make necessary changes.

Instead, the company allegedly prioritized profits over patient safety, violating not only state staffing regulations but also the basic trust families place in long-term care providers.

“With today’s lawsuit, we are holding Sweetwater accountable for breaking the law by understaffing its facilities and leaving residents vulnerable to serious neglect and injuries.”
– California Attorney General Rob Bonta

California Nursing Home Lawyers Can Help

Nursing home abuse is any intentional or negligent act by caregivers in a long-term care facility that causes harm or distress to a resident. It’s something families can seek justice over.

California nursing home abuse lawyers may be able to help:

Determine if abuse or neglect occurred in your case
Hold organizations like Sweetwater accountable for their wrongdoings
Pursue compensation that can help with moving to a safer facility
Report abuse in California to the county and law enforcement

In one case, our legal partners secured nearly $9 million in California nursing home settlements for the family of a 65-year-old who passed away due to nursing home abuse.

Get a free case review now. Our team may be able to fight for justice on your behalf, and there are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with us.