Is it too much to ask for a safe place for our loved ones to live?  Sure expansive bathrooms and gourmet food are nice, but at the very least, shouldn't we be able to expect a safe environment free from violence?

Yet as an assisted living lawyer, I continually see elderly people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities becoming victims of violent attack both at the hands of fellow residents as well as rogue staff.  In many cases, the violent acts are particularly disturbing because some of the offenders have absolutely no business even walking in the vicinity of the facility due to prior bad acts.

A recent violent episode at a North Carolina assisted living facility made headlines after the victim of a violent attack filed a lawsuit against the facility.  The victim of the attack and person initiating the lawsuit is suing Galloway Ridge Retirement Community claiming the facilty should have done a better job screening their staff.

Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that facilities failure to do an accurate background check of a housekeeper prior to hiring her would have avoiding the incident altogether.  In 2007 incident the resident was allegedly attacked by the Galloway Ridge housekeeper after she confronted the woman about allegedly stealing money from her account.  The attack left the resident with a fractured skull and a traumatic brain injury.

Related:

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Patient Beaten To Death At Nursing Home With Long History Of Safety Violations. Should This Facility Really Be Considered A Skilled Nursing Facility Or Simply A Haven for Thugs?

Feds Yank Funding From Another Chicago Nursing Home With A Troubled Past

Woman sues Chatham County assisted living facility after beating

Nursing Home Injury Laws:North Carolina