By Patrick Darrington
A lawsuit alleges that a nursing facility in Mobile County covered up the sexual abuse of a non-verbal woman with disabilities.
The woman, identified as A.M. in the suit, was born with Phelan-Mcdermid Syndrome and is dependent upon others to provide for her.
The lawsuit was brought by Phyllis Robertson, A.M.’s grandmother and conservator, against defendant Arabella Health and Wellness of Grand Bay OpCo LLC.
The suit alleges that from August 2024 to January 13, 2025, the defendants were aware, or should have been aware, that one of the facilities residents was entering A.M.‘s room for the “purpose of sexually gratifying himself.”
AL.com contacted Arabella regarding the lawsuit but the nursing facility said it had no comment.
According to the complaint, A.M.’s mother, Melanie Ellinger, and step-father visited on Dec. 10, 2024. That same day the aforementioned resident was caught staring into A.M.’s room and touching himself. The staff apologized and closed the resident’s door.
Despite being aware of the resident’s actions, Arabella failed to take actions to protect A.M. from further abuse, the suit alleges.
On January 13, 2025, Ellinger was notified that the resident was caught again but this time he was in A.M.’s room.
“During this call to Ms. Ellinger, this nurse advised that one of their staff walked into A.M.‘s room earlier that morning, and found a male resident either in or sitting on A.M.‘s bed, naked .... touching A.M.,” the lawsuit reads.
The complaint claims that instead of notifying appropriate law enforcement authorities the defendants downplayed the incident and said the resident was “comforting” A.M.
The nursing home waited three days before transporting A.M. to a medical facility to be tested for sexual abuse only after pressure from Ellinger.
However, once at the facility, the defendants told hospital personnel that an examination was “unnecessary.”
The personnel then declined to conduct an examination initially until Ellinger again demanded one.
The examination did not find any evidence of sexual abuse.
The suit claims that no evidence of sexual abuse was found following the examination due to the defendants waiting over three days after the incident.
The actions of the defendants were “negligent” and amounted to a “cover-up,” according to the complaint.
Full Article & Source:
Mobile County nursing home accused of covering up sexual abuse of non-verbal resident
