Family Files Lawsuit Against The Laurels of Walden Park for the Wrongful Death of Their Mother
It wasn’t until she arrived at the hospital that Michelle Whigham learned that her mother Henrietta Wilson was critically ill. According to the lawsuit filed in Franklin County, Ohio Estate of Henrietta Veronica Wilson vs. Laurel Health Care Company, et. al., “[o]ver a period of days in late-January 2023, Henrietta showed signs of an infection that either went unrecognized or were ignored by the Facility’s staff.” Then, “[o]n January 30, 2023, Henrietta was found unresponsive with agonal respirations because she was starved of oxygen and gasping for air.”
“At St. Anne Hospital, Henrietta was diagnosed with metabolic acidosis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, a systemic infection, sepsis (the body’s dysregulated response to an infection), and multiple organ failure,” according to the lawsuit. No one from The Laurels of Walden Park contacted Henrietta’s family to let them know their mother was sent to the hospital until the following day, January 31st.
The lawsuit states that “[o]n January 31, 2023, when family arrived at the hospital, hospital staff informed the family that Henrietta likely had less than 12 hours to live as the infection had already progressed and spread to her lungs and bloodstream.”
Henrietta died on January 31, 2023, the day after she was transferred to St. Anne’s from The Laurels of Walden Park. The death certificate reports that her death was caused by septic shock. Septic shock occurs when an infection progresses to the point that the body begins to attack itself.
“This is the same pattern of neglect we see over and over again at nursing homes not only across Ohio but across the country. The signs of infection are there for anyone to see. But because the staff are overworked, undertrained, and the nursing home has a culture of dismissing patients’ symptoms, these infections aren’t treated and people die as a result,” says lead attorney Michael Hill.
Misleading Advertising at The Laurels of Walden Park?
The Laurels of Walden Park is a large 225-bed nursing home in Columbus, Ohio. According to its website, “Laurels of Walden Park offers a full spectrum of post-hospital services, from a short-term rehabilitation stay to long-term nursing care.” The website advertises that “[W]e believe that from the moment you walk into the facility, we have a responsibility to offer you the best. Be it services or experts, we endeavor to make you smile with satisfaction.”
(https://www.cienahealthcare.com/locations/laurels-of-walden-park/?laurels_redirect=1, accessed Mar 22, 2024)
These statements are misleading, however, according to the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, “The Laurels Defendants engaged in a systemic practice to understaff the facilities to maximize profits at the expense of its residents’ care. The Laurels Defendants’ systemic understaffing of the Facility resulted in a ‘1-star’ (“much below average”) ranking for Staffing on the Medicare.gov Nursing Home Compare website and a 1-star overall ranking.”
(The Center for Medicare and Medicaid found that The Laurels of Walden Park aka The Laurels of Walden Park, LLC earned a 1-star, or “much below average” rating for both Staffing and Health Inspections. This data was taken directly from medicare.gov on January 18, 2024.)
In addition to negligence and wrongful death, the lawsuit includes claims for violations of nursing home resident rights, fraud, and civil conspiracy.
Who Owns The Laurels Nursing Homes?
The Laurel Health Care Company is a for-profit corporation headquartered in Westerville, Ohio. It is part of the Cienna Healthcare brand, Cienna Healthcare is a corporation located outside of Detroit, Michigan that manages and owns 83 nursing homes in 5 states: Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and Indiana. A list of these facilities are at the end of this article.
Have The Laurels Been Sued Before in Ohio?
In June 2022, Michael Hill of Michael Hill Trial Law obtained a record verdict against The Laurels of Mt. Vernon and its parent company, Laurel Health Care Company. That case also involved the nursing home’s failure to identify signs of an infection resulting in delayed treatment and death from sepsis. The jury awarded $5 million for Jack Huls’ death. That is the largest verdict in the history of Knox County, Ohio. It is also the largest verdict against any of The Laurels facilities.
Complete List of Laurels Health Care / Cienna Healthcare Facilities
| Autumnwood of McBain220 Hughston StreetMcBain, MI 49657 | Boulevard Temple Care Center2567 West Grand BoulevardDetroit, MI 48208 | Brittany Manor3615 East Ashman StreetMidland, MI 48642 | Christian Park Healthcare Center2415 Fifth Avenue SouthEscanaba, MI 49829 |
| Christian Park Village2525 Seventh Avenue SouthEscanaba, MI 49829 | Courtney Manor1167 East Hopson StreetBad Axe, MI 48413 | Fenton Healthcare Center512 Beach StreetFenton, MI 48430 | Fountain View of Monroe1971 North Monroe StreetMonroe, MI 48162 |
| Hartford Nursing and Rehab Center6700 Outer Dr. WDetroit, MI 48235 | Hickory Ridge of Temperance951 Hickory Creek DriveTemperance, MI 48182 | Kith HavenG-1069 Ballenger HighwayFlint, MI 48504 | Lakeview Manor Healthcare Center408 North Fifth AvenueTawas City, MI 48763 |
| Laurels of Bedford270 N Bedford RoadBattle Creek, MI 49037 | Laurels of Carson City620 N 2nd StreetCarson City, MI 48811 | Laurels of Coldwater90 N Michigan AvenueColdwater, MI 49036 | Laurels of FultonRFD #1 4735 Ranger RoadPerrinton, MI 48871 |
| Laurels of Galesburg1080 N 35th StreetGalesburg, MI 49053 | Laurels of Hudsonville3650 Van Buren StreetHudsonville, MI 49426 | Laurels of Kent350 N Center StreetLowell, MI 49331 | Laurels of Mt. Pleasant400 S Crapo StreetMt. Pleasant, MI 48858 |
| Laurels of Sandy Creek425 E Elm StreetWayland, MI 49348 | Maplewood of Sandy Creek425 E Elm StreetWayland, MI 49348 | Notting Hill of West Bloomfield6535 Drake RoadWest Bloomfield, MI 48322 | Omni Continuing Care5201 Conner AvenueDetroit, MI 48213 |
| Ovid Healthcare Center9480 E. M-21Ovid, MI 48866 | Qualicare Nursing Home695 East Grand BoulevardDetroit, MI 48207 | Regency at Bluffs Park355 Huron View BlvdAnn Arbor, MI 48103 | Regency at Canton45900 Geddes RoadCanton, MI 48188 |
| Regency at Chene2295 E VernorDetroit, MI 48207 | Regency at Fremont4554 W 48th StreetFremont, MI 49412 | Regency at Grand Blanc1330 Grand Pointe CourtGrand Blanc, MI 48439 | Regency at Lansing West12200 Broadbent RoadLansing, MI 48917 |
| Regency at Livonia14900 Middlebelt RoadLivonia, MI 48154 | Regency at Shelby Township7401 22 Mile RoadShelby Township, MI 48317 | Regency at Troy2685 West Maple RoadTroy, MI 48084 | Regency at Waterford1901 N. Telegraph RoadWaterford, MI 48328 |
| Regency at Westland2209 N Newburgh RdWestland, MI 48185 | Regency at Whitmore Lake8633 Main StreetWhitmore Lake, MI 48189 | Regency Heights Nursing and Rehab Center19100 W. Seven Mile RoadDetroit, MI 48219 | Regency On The Lake5669 Lakeshore DriveFt. Gratiot, MI 48059 |
| Royalton Manor288 Peace Blvd.St. Joseph, MI 49085 | Sheffield Manor Nursing and Rehab15311 Schaefer AvenueDetroit, MI 48227 | St. Anthony Healthcare Center31830 Ryan RoadWarren, MI 48092 | The Manor of Farmington Hills21017 Middlebelt RoadFarmington Hills, MI 48336 |
| The Manor of Novi24500 Meadowbrook RoadNovi, MI 48375 | Willowbrook Manor4436 Beecher RoadFlint, MI 48532 | Laurel Healthcare8181 Worthington RoadWesterville, OH 43082 | Laurels of Athens70 Columbus CircleAthens, OH 45701 |
| Laurels of Blanchester839 Cherry StreetBlanchester, OH 45107 | Laurels of Chagrin Falls150 Cleveland StChagrin Falls, OH 44022 | Laurels of Defiance1701 S Jefferson AvenueDefiance, OH 43512 | Laurels of Gahanna5151 North Hamilton RdColumbus, OH 43230 |
| Laurels of Hamilton2923 Hamilton Mason RdHamilton, OH 45011 | Laurels of Heath717 South 30th StreetHeath, OH 43056 | Laurels of Hillsboro175 Chillicothe AvenueHillsboro, OH 45133 | Laurels of Huber Heights5440 Charlesgate RoadHuber Heights, OH 45424 |
| Laurels of Kettering694 Isaac Prugh WayKettering, OH 45429 | Laurels of Massillon2000 Sherman Circle NEMassillon, OH 44646 | Laurels of Middletown751 Kensington StMiddletown, OH 45044 | Laurels of Milford934 State Route 28Milford, OH 45150 |
| Laurels of Mt. Vernon13 Avalon RoadMt. Vernon, OH 43050 | Laurels of New London204 W Main StreetNew London, OH 44851 | Laurels of Norworth6830 N High StreetWorthington, OH 43085 | Laurels of Steubenville500 Stanton BoulevardSteubenville, OH 43952 |
| Laurels of Walden Park5700 Karl RoadColumbus, OH 43229 | Laurels of West Carrollton115 Elmwood CircleWest Carrollton, OH 45449 | Laurels of West Columbus441 Norton RdColumbus, OH 43228 | Laurels of Worthington1030 High StreetWorthington, OH 43085 |
| Laurels of Bon Air9101 Bon Air Crossings DriveRichmond, VA 23235 | Laurels of Charlottesville490 Hillsdale DriveCharlottesville, VA 22901 | Laurels of University Park2420 Pemberton RoadRichmond, VA 23233 | Laurels of Willow Creek11611 Robious RoadMidlothian, VA 23113 |
| Laurels of Chatham72 Chatham Business Park DrivePittsboro, NC 27312 | Laurels of Forest Glenn1101 Hartwell StreetGarner, NC 27529 | Laurels of GreenTree Ridge70 Sweeten Creek RoadAsheville, NC 28803 | Laurels of Hendersonville290 Clear Creek RoadHendersonville, NC 28792 |
| Laurels of Pender311 S Campbell StBurgaw, NC 28425 | Laurels of Salisbury215 Lash DriveSalisbury, NC 28147 | Laurels of Summit Ridge100 Riceville RoadAsheville, NC 28805 | Laurels of DeKalb520 W Liberty StreetButler, IN 46721 |
Questions About A Potential Lawsuit Involving The Laurels or Another Facility?
Michael Hill is a nationally recognized attorney who handles exclusively cases against long term care facilities. Michael and his firm, Michael Hill Trial Law, handle cases across the country. If you have any questions about cases involving The Laurels or any other nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or group homes, you can contact Michael Hill Trial Law at www.protectseniors.com, by sending an email to info@protectseniors.com, or by calling (800) 659-2712.
