A jury in McCracken County, Ky. reached a unanimous verdict in a nursing home neglect lawsuit, awarding $5 million to the family of a former patient of Superior Care Home facility in nearby Paducah.

The family of Regina T. filed the lawsuit after the 84-year-old resident choked to death in 2016.

Numerous health issues, including Parkinson’s disease, restricted Regina’s diet, according to the nursing home negelct lawsuit. She was supposed to be consuming a specific soft diet to prevent choking hazards.

However, her family claims that there were numerous occasions during the seven months Regina resided at Superior Care Home that she choked on foods that were not on her prescribed diet. The first few times she was fine, but in September 2016, Regina choked to death on food that had not been prescribed.

Jurors found that Superior Care Home had violated its duty to provide care, awarding Regina’s estate $5 million — $1 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages.

After the verdict was announced, the family released a statement thanking the jury for its unanimous decision.

“They pursued this case, not only to seek justice for [Regina], but to protect other residents in the future,” the statement read. “Our seniors need and deserve high quality care and we hope this verdict will result in a change in business practices to ensure that residents of Superior Care are treated appropriately.

This is not the first nursing home neglect lawsuit to be filed against Superior Care. NBC affiliate WPSB reported that it’s the second seven-figure verdict that’s been leveled against the nursing home in the span of just five months.

In August, a different jury found the same nursing home to be at fault for gross negligence and failure to provide proper medical care to a dementia patient workers there forced out of the facility, according to WPSB. The woman died three weeks later. Jurors determined that “Superior Care Home’s actions led to the deterioration of Moore’s health — ultimately resulting in her death.”  The patient’s family was awarded $2.2 million.

Can I File a Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit?

If someone you love has suffered from abuse or neglect in a nursing home facility, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by neglect or abuse, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more, as well as hold those responsible for this suffering accountable for their actions and inactions.

Filing a lawsuit can seem like a daunting prospect, especially while dealing with medical complications or the death of a loved one, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.