$15M Nursing Home Wrongful Death Verdict for Bedsores

Ruby Evans’ family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Windsor Vallejo Care Center in California after the 96-year-old developed a severe stage 3 pressure ulcer and then died during what was supposed to be a short-term rehabilitation stay.

Because she was immobile following a stroke, Ruby required repositioning every 2 hours to prevent skin breakdown — but the facility failed to follow this plan and then allegedly lied about the extent of her injuries.

At trial, the family’s attorneys argued the injury was entirely preventable and the result of systemic neglect, including understaffing and falsified records documenting care that was not provided. The jury ultimately agreed, finding the facility liable for elder abuse and wrongful death.

They awarded a $15.75 million pressure ulcer verdict, which included significant punitive damages, signaling that the conduct went beyond simple negligence and warranted punishment.

What Led to This Nursing Home Wrongful Death Verdict?

Ruby Evans was 96 years old and living independently in her San Francisco apartment when she suffered a stroke in July 2019. After stabilizing in the hospital, her family transferred her to Windsor Vallejo Care Center for short-term rehabilitation, hoping she would regain strength and return home.

At the time of her admission, Evans had no bedsores or skin injuries. Because she was immobile, staff identified her as high risk for pressure ulcers and created a care plan requiring her to be repositioned every 2 hours to prevent injury.

Within days, Evans developed a wound on her lower back. However, staff allegedly reported her skin as normal, failing to disclose the severity of her condition to her family. Instead, they minimized the injury while Evans’ health declined.

After just 1 week, her family removed her from the facility, and an outside caregiver discovered she had developed a stage 3 pressure ulcer — a severe, preventable wound caused by prolonged pressure and lack of movement.

Evans was rushed to the hospital, but the injury had already caused irreversible harm. She lived with the painful bedsore for nearly 2 months before dying on October 2, 2019.

Her family later alleged that the facility failed to follow her care plan, concealed her injury, and neglected to provide the basic care needed to protect her during what was supposed to be a temporary rehabilitation stay.

Understanding the Latest Bedsore Nursing Home Verdict

Ruby Evans’ family filed a wrongful death and elder abuse lawsuit against Windsor Vallejo Care Center, arguing that her death was the result of preventable neglect — not age or an unavoidable medical decline.

Stage 3 and stage 4 bedsore verdicts often involve severe neglect because these severe wounds are widely recognized as preventable with proper care.

According to the nursing home neglect lawsuit:

The staff failed to follow her required care plan, which required repositioning every 2 hours
Evans developed a stage 3 bedsore within days as a result of this neglect
Her family was misled about the seriousness of her condition
Staff dishonestly documented proper care despite not checking on the patient
Her injuries and death were entirely avoidable

The family’s nursing home abuse attorneys presented strong evidence at trial that medical records had been falsified and that the facility’s operational decisions, including alleged understaffing, contributed to systemic neglect.

The jury ultimately agreed, issuing a nursing home abuse case verdict that held the facility liable for elder abuse and wrongful death. While the family was awarded one of the largest verdicts for bedsore death in recent years, the death of Ruby Evans never should have happened.

“Our family is grateful that some measure of justice has been served…by holding those responsible accountable. This verdict affirms that every elder deserves dignity…and sends a clear message that abuse and neglect of vulnerable individuals will not be tolerated.”

– Spokesperson for Ruby’s Family

Let California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Fight for Your Family

At the Nursing Home Abuse Center, we’ve partnered with top nursing home abuse lawyers who can help families in all 50 states. We’ve helped thousands of families understand their legal rights and next steps after a facility fails to keep their loved ones safe.

Top California nursing home lawyers can help families:

Hold negligent facilities accountable for abuse or neglect
File the lawsuit and any related paperwork within legal deadlines
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