3 Million Dollar Verdict for Nursing Home Resident

William Reinhardt, as Administrator of the Estate of James Reinhardt v. Sunrise at Mill Basin:

James Reinhardt was a resident of Sunrise at Mill Basin who resided in a locked dementia unit at the nursing home facility. As a residential health care facility Sunrise was responsible to provide appropriate supervision and care to Mr. Reinhardt. The unit where Mr. Reinhardt resided was self-contained and there was a kitchen area where residents would eat and drink. A handy-man who worked at the facility left an open container of a red colored caustic detergent in the kitchen area. Mr. Reinhardt, mistaking the caustic substance for cranberry juice, ingested the liquid which should have never been left I the kitchen. There were no staff members monitoring the kitchen as there should have been while a resident was consuming food or drink in the area. As a result of ingesting this caustic substance Mr. Reinhardt sustained internal injuries including severe burns to the esophagus. An action against the facility and their corporate owners was filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court. After a two week trial the jury found the facility negligent in their supervision and care of James Reinhardt and returned a verdict of 3 Million Dollars on behalf of his estate. Nursing home abuse attorney John Dalli subsequently settled the case following the verdict.