Family sues Savannah nursing facility over abuse allegations

by: Genevieve Lund

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — A Savannah family is suing Riverview Health & Rehab Center, alleging an incapacitated woman was neglected, physically abused and sexually assaulted while in the facility’s care.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the woman, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe,” and her legal guardian, Katrina Best.

At a news conference Monday, attorney Chadwick Mance said the case centers on what he described as failures by Riverview Health and other defendants to protect a vulnerable resident.

“We’ve alleged that Jane Doe was repeatedly neglected, physically abused, sexually assaulted and harmed while dependent upon the care of the Riverview defendants,” Mance said.

According to the lawsuit, Jane Doe is an adult who has been determined by a court that she is unable to make their own decisions. Jane Doe relies on others for basic care, including feeding, bathing, mobility and decision-making.

Best said she trusted the facility to keep her loved one safe.

“It’s really very disturbing, upsetting,” Best said. “You put your trust in this place. So going through the years, you can receive apologies, apologies, apologies. But at one point we have to say enough is enough.”

The lawsuit alleges Jane Doe was sexually assaulted by another resident, identified in the case as “Resident 64.”

Mance said Riverview had been warned about the resident before the alleged assault involving Jane Doe.

According to an expert’s written statement attached to the complaint, the facility had documented or received reports involving Resident 64 dating back to 2023. Those allegations included unwanted touching, entering female residents’ rooms, kissing residents without consent and other sexually inappropriate behavior.

Mance said those previous incidents should have prompted additional safeguards.

“The central question in this case is not simply what one employee or one resident did or did not do,” Mance said. “Instead, it is what Riverview knew and when it knew it, what responsibilities arose from that knowledge and why.”

The lawsuit also alleges that a former certified nursing assistant threw a mechanical lift pad at a resident on Oct. 28, 2024.

State inspection records cited in the case document an incident involving a CNA and a mechanical lift pad.

Best said she did not learn the full details surrounding the alleged sexual assault directly from Riverview.

She said she learned more after reviewing a government report and speaking with another resident.

“Once the report finally came out, all of the details, that’s when I found out,” Best said.

A state inspection conducted in February documented allegations involving verbal, sexual and physical abuse and cited failures related to reporting and investigating certain allegations, according to records referenced by the lawsuit.

The records also show Resident 64 was placed under one-on-one supervision.

Mance said the lawsuit alleges the facility failed in several areas, including abuse prevention, supervision, mandatory reporting, investigations and nursing assessments.

Best said Jane Doe remains at Riverview while the family works to move her to another facility.

She said the process has been difficult.

“They don’t really communicate with me,” Best said. “I have not even received an apology from them.”

Best said the experience has changed how she views nursing-home care and encouraged families with loved ones in facilities to remain involved.

“Visit all day, and I’ll schedule through the night to really see what’s going on,” she said.

The lawsuit names multiple entities connected to the operation of the facility.

Mance said skilled nursing facilities can involve separate ownership, management, contracting and corporate entities, making it necessary to determine which entities may have responsibility for a resident’s care.

He also said the case could lead to broader scrutiny of how vulnerable residents are protected in long-term care facilities.

“This is about every parent. It’s about every sister, brother, grandparent, veteran and person with a disability whose life depends upon the integrity of a skilled nursing facility or caregiver,” Mance said.

The lawsuit is seeking damages and other relief. The case remains pending in court.

WSAV reached out to Riverview Health for comment. The facility said it could not comment at this time.

The allegations contained in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. 

Full Article & Source:
Family sues Savannah nursing facility over abuse allegations