Most people in Maryland, and elsewhere in the nation, believe the elderly are one of the most vulnerable groups of people in our country. It's perhaps for this very reason that most people consider the neglect and abuse of elderly people to be an incredibly egregious act. We certainly feel this way, which is why we represent victims of nursing home abuse and neglect in personal injury cases.
In today's post, we'd like to call to attention an out-of-state case in which a disabled elderly person was sexually assaulted by a nursing home staff member. Though the case happened outside of our jurisdiction and will be handled by a court that is governed by a different set of laws, many of our Upper Marlboro readers may empathize with the victim and their family.
The case we are referring to is one out of Illinois where a 58-year-old man is facing criminal sexual assault charges for allegedly assaulting a disabled resident. According to reports, his actions were witnessed by two other staff members, then reported to the nursing home administrator. The accused staff member could face serious penalties if convicted, though a civil lawsuit has not been named as one of these penalties at this time.
By now, most of our readers realize that nursing home abuse can happen anywhere in our country, including here in Maryland. It's a worrisome thought if you think about it, especially because it means the story we've just told could have easily have happened here. If such an occurrence had happened here, our readers should know that law enforcement in our state would likely seek similar justice by filing criminal charges. Civil litigation is also possible after a case like this, though a victim or their family would be encouraged to seek legal representation, as filing a civil action after a case like this can be challenging.
Source: CI News, "Nursing home employee to be charged with sexually assaulting a patient," Jan. 14, 2016