The family of a WWII veteran who died after an assault at a State-operated adult care facility will receive a $825,000 settlement from the State of Michigan.
The matter stems from the 2012 death of the 84-year-old nursing home resident who was unsupervised and assaulted by another resident of the home. The veteran had dementia and had wandered into another resident’s room where he was attacked by the resident. Staff at the nursing home did not send the victim to a hospital until the following morning. He died a few days later.
Varnum personal injury attorney Peter Smit successfully handled the case against the State Attorney General’s office. The State filed appeal motions to dismiss the complaint and the case remained in the court system for nearly five years. The matter was finally settled last month after the Michigan Supreme Court denied the State’s attempt at further appeal.