Kent, Ohio Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers

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Eadie Hill Trial Lawyers handles nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Portage County, Ohio.

Eadie Hill Trial Lawyers are Kent, Ohio nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers. Our core mission is to end nursing home abuse across Ohio. We do this one case at a time.

What types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Cases do You Handle?

We handle all kinds of nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Athens, Ohio. These cases usually involve one or more of the following:

Nursing Home Elder Abuse

Elder abuse refers to intentional actions that cause harm or create a serious risk of harm, regardless of whether harm is intended, to an elderly person by a caregiver. Abuse includes failure by a caregiver to satisfy an elder’s basic needs—neglect.

Nursing Home Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers

Bedsores shouldn’t happen. We investigate to find answers for families when a nursing home allows a bedsore to worsen or kill their loved one.

Nursing Home Choking and Suffocation Deaths

Nursing home residents should never choke or suffocate in nursing homes. Choking and suffocation deaths in nursing home are preventable. Unfortunately, they do happen. And probably much more often than most people can imagine. Choking and suffocation continue to be leading causes of death in nursing homes.

Nursing Home Dehydration and Malnutrition

Nursing home dehydration and malnutrition are serious and deadly threats to older people.  When nursing homes are understaffed or careless with resident health, dehydration can set in all too quickly.

Nursing Home Falls and Drops

Nursing home residents are often frail, weak, and unstable. They need help moving from place-to-place or getting in and of bed.

Unfortunately, nursing homes continue to allow residents to fall and become injured. Fractures of large bones (like hips and femurs) often lead to death in the elderly.

Nursing Home Wandering Off (called Elopement)

Nursing homes need to protect their residents. Elderly people with memory problems sometimes wander off. This is called “elopement.”

Nursing homes are required to assess residents to prevent this from happening. Nursing homes must have precautions in place to prevent residents from wandering off. This includes having the appropriate amount of staff to monitor residents. Nursing homes must also place alarms on doors and respond to those alarms to stop residents before they are injured.

If residents are permitted to wander off they can be severely injured. There have been examples of residents freezing to death in cold, being struck by cars, and falling down stairs.

Nursing Home Sexual Assault

It should go without saying that sexual abuse anywhere, including in nursing homes, is a crime that must be eradicated from society. Disgustingly, every year we see nursing home sexual abuse cases make headlines.

These are frequently the result of corporate greed and incompetence refusing to do required background checks.

Nursing Home Wrongful Death

When a nursing home’s abuse and neglect causes injury, the injured resident has a personal injury case.  When that injury causes the resident’s death—whether immediately, or over time—the resident’s family has a case. It is called a “wrongful death” claim.

Nursing Home Medication Errors

Medication errors are one of the leading causes of unintentional deaths in nursing homes.

Assisted Living Abuse and Neglect

Assisted Living Facilities, called Residential Care Facilities in Ohio, are not nursing homes, and are not as well regulated as nursing homes.  That doesn’t mean someone injured or killed in a residential care facility has no claim.  But the types of claims, and how to pursue them, are different.

Where Do Kent, Ohio Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Cases Go to Trial?

Nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Kent and surrounding areas go to trial at the Portage County, Ohio Courthouse.

Portage County Court of Common Pleas

203 W. Main Street

Ravenna, Ohio 44266

(330) 297-3475

(330) 297-4268 (Fax)

The Portage County Courthouse is located directly behind Veterans Memorial Parkway between S. Park Way and S. Chestnut Street.

Who are the Judges who will Preside over My Kent, Ohio Nursing Home Abuse Case?

There are 2 judges who hear nursing home abuse and neglect cases in Portage County, Ohio. These judges are the Honorable Laurie J. Pittman and the Honorable Becky L. Doherty.

Who will be on the Jury in My Kent, Ohio Nursing Home Case?

The jury is made up of regular people who live in Portage County, Ohio. A large group of people will receive a letter (called a summons) telling them to come to court for jury duty.

In an area like Portage County, the potential jurors include students from Kent State University. The Portage County Jury Commissioner Marie Kunka has stated that college classes are not a reason to avoid jury duty. So, expect some students from Kent State University to be among the potential jurors.

Not everyone who receives a summons will be on the jury. The entire group that comes to court is called the “jury pool.”

The lawyers and the judge then get to ask questions to see who will be a good fit for the case. Some people will not be chosen for a number of reasons. It could be that they know one of the people involved in the case or may be biased for some reason.

A total of 8 people will be on the jury.

Where Can I Get A Copy of my Death Certificate in Portage County, Ohio?

The Health Departments maintains records on births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that took place in the county. These are called “vital statistics” or “vital records.” You can get a copy of the death certificate by contacting:

You can obtain a certified death certificate from the City of Kent, Ohio Health Department.

Tracy Radovic, Portage County Registrar
Linda Grimm, Deputy Registrar
Kent Health Department

Who is the Coroner for Portage County, Ohio?

The coroner serving Portage County, Ohio is Dr. Dean DePerro. Dr. DePerro can be contacted at the following:

Dean DePerro, Portage County Coroner

226 W. Harris Ave.

Box 1217

Ravenna Ohio 44266

(330) 297-3444

(330) 298-2059 (Fax)

What Types of Deaths Should Be Reported to the Coroner’s Office?

Not all deaths have to be reported to the coroner, also called a medical examiner in some counties. However, whenever a person dies of “violent, suspicious, unusual, or sudden death,” that has to be reported to the coroner by law in Ohio.

Ohio Revised Code 313.12 says:

When any person dies as a result of criminal or other violent means, by casualty, by suicide, or in any suspicious or unusual manner, when any person, including a child under two years of age, dies suddenly when in apparent good health, or when any person with a developmental disability dies regardless of the circumstances, the physician called in attendance, or any member of an ambulance service, emergency squad, or law enforcement agency who obtains knowledge thereof arising from the person’s duties, shall immediately notify the office of the coroner of the known facts concerning the time, place, manner, and circumstances of the death, and any other information that is required pursuant to sections 313.01 to 313.22 of the Revised Code.

Only the coroner or medical examiner can certify a death as being anything other than “natural.” This means that only a medical examiner or coroner can determine whether a person’s death was the result of suicide, homicide, or accident.

Most nursing home deaths that result in litigation are caused by accidental death or homicide.

Unfortunately, far too many primary care and other doctors choose not to alert the coroner or medical examiner after a person has died following trauma or other unusual circumstances, including after a nursing home resident falls.

When this occurs, it is important for the family to contact the coroner or medical examiner’s office as soon as possible. This can help ensure that the proper cause of death is given.

Does the Coroner  need Permission to Perform an Autopsy?

Ohio law (ORC 2108.52) provides that the Medical Examiner/Coroner does not need permission to perform an autopsy. The Department of the Medical Examiner will attempt to comply with the wishes of the next of kin, especially if there is a family religious interest and when this does not conflict with the duties of the Medical Examiner as charged by Ohio law.

What is an Autopsy and is There a Charge?

An autopsy is a systematic examination by a qualified physician respectful of a deceased person for the purpose of determining the cause of death and recovering from the body evidence of the cause of death. A record is made of the findings of the autopsy, including microscopic and toxicological laboratory tests. These laboratory tests are conducted after the release of the body to the next of kin for burial. There is no charge to the next of kin for an autopsy nor for any of the tests which may be conducted by the Medical Examiner’s Department. However, if you wish to obtain a copy of our written reports, they can be purchased for a nominal fee. Please contact the Medical Examiner’s Department at (330) 643-2101 for details about how to obtain these reports.

How Long Does it take for a Death Ruling to be Made?

This procedure is handled differently by various Counties. In Portage County, in many cases, a signed death certificate accompanies the body when it is released by the Medical Examiner. When there is insufficient information available to complete the death certificate, a “Pending findings, facts, and verdict” death certificate is issued that accompanies the body. This death certificate enables the funeral services and burial to take place while additional chemical, microscopic slide preparation and examination, and other investigation continues. At the culmination of these tests and investigation, a ruling is made based on all available information. A supplemental death certificate is then issued with the cause of death and ruling which supersedes the “Pending” death certificate.

Will an Autopsy Disfigure the Body and Prevent an Open Casket Funeral?

Necessary incisions used to perform the autopsy are easily covered by clothing and do not prevent open casket viewing.

What Does it Mean to Probate An Estate?

The deceased person cannot file his own lawsuit.  Ohio law has a process where all beneficiaries are represented in a single wrongful death lawsuit through the creation of an estate. Although each surviving member of a decedent’s immediate family may be entitled to receive monetary compensation, there is only one cause of action for the recovery of that compensation under Ohio’s wrongful death statute.

Opening An Estate

The actual lawsuit is brought in the name of the representative of the estate for the exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse, children, parents, and other next-of-kin.  The estate is created by filing certain paperwork in the probate court.

The “estate” is nothing more than a legal process where the probate court oversees the business of the deceased (including where money is being sent and how or if debts are being paid) and the wrongful death claim that belongs to the family members.

The probate court will then issue paperwork entitling a specific person to serve as the representative of the estate.  The individual appointed by the probate court is the personal representative of the estate.  The personal representative is then required to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries of the estate.  The probate court must approve any wrongful death settlement.

Choosing A Personal Representative

Any competent adult person may serve as the personal representative of an estate.  In order to be appointed as a personal representative of an estate in Ohio, a person must meet 4 requirements.

1. Be at least 18 years of age (i.e., legally competent);
2. Be mentally competent;
3. Be bonded by a private insurance company; and
4. Not have a criminal record (in order to be bonded).

If the deceased dies with a will, the will sometimes waives the bond requirement.  Under those circumstances, in order to be appointed as the personal representative, the person must only meet the first two requirements, be over the age of 18 and be mentally competent.

Prior to appointing a personal representative of an estate, beneficiaries have the right to receive notice of the request and object to an applicant’s request to be the personal representative in a hearing.  If the beneficiaries do not object to a person being named a personal representative and he or she meets the legal requirements, he or she will usually be named the personal representative by the probate court.

There is no requirement that the personal representative be a beneficiary of the wrongful death claim, be a member of the family, or even have ever known the deceased person.  On certain occasions, a lawyer, bank official, or other neutral third-party may be appointed as the personal representative of the estate.  This may be the most desirable outcome if, for example, no family member can be bonded or there is family conflict that prevents all beneficiaries from agreeing on a single family member to serve as personal representative.

What does A Personal Representative Do?

In many ways, the personal representative acts like plaintiff in a traditional lawsuit.  The difference, however, is that the personal representative is not only making decisions that affect his or her own interests, but is making decisions that affect all beneficiaries of the wrongful death claim.

For example, the personal representative decides whether to file a lawsuit, who and when to sue, what lawyer to have represent the estate for court proceedings, and whether or not to settle the lawsuit, although the probate court must always approve the settlement before it can be finalized.

The personal representative often times has more contact with the lawyers representing the estate (although this is not always the case), is required to participate in certain stages of litigation after the lawsuit is filed called discovery, attends court hearings and pre-trials, and participates in settlement negotiations and mediations.

The personal representative is important because they have the power to choose which lawyer will protect all the beneficiaries’ interests.  This is an important decision.  The lawyer chosen has a tremendous impact on the final settlement or jury verdict.  Picking an experienced wrongful death lawyer who has the ability and expertise to not only go to trial but secure a jury verdict is critical.

Given the amount of responsibility that goes into being the personal representative of an estate, it is important to have a personal representative who is organized, responsive, willing to vigorously pursue the claim, and make decisions that are most advantageous to all beneficiaries.

A probate court may remove the administrator of decedent’s estate when the administrator refuses to bring a wrongful death action when a legitimate wrongful death claim exists. See Toledo Bar Ass’n v. Rust, 124 Ohio St. 3d 305, 2010 Ohio 170.

Where is the Probate Court in Portage County, Ohio?

The Portage County, Ohio Probate Court is located in the Probate Division of the main courthouse.

Portage County Court of Common Pleas

203 W. Main Street

Ravenna, Ohio 44266

The probate court is where an estate is opened. It is also where nursing home wrongful death settlements and verdicts are processed before the funds can be distributed to family members and charities.

What Are the Nursing Homes in Portage County, Ohio?

Kent Center

1290 FAIRCHILD AVENUE
KENT, OH 44240
(330) 678-4912

Kent Center is a 1-Star facility, according to Medicare. This is the lowest ranking possible on Medicare’s system. It has a “below average” rating for staffing. According to Medicare, there is fewer staff available than are needed to provide appropriate care for nursing home residents. Understaffed nursing homes are most likely to result in severe injuries to nursing home residents because there simply is not enough care and supervision to go around.

U.S. News & World Report gives this nursing home an overall rating of “poor,” the lowest rating available.

Kent Center is a for-profit corporation. Its legal name is Fairchild Leasing Co., LLC.

Stow Glen Health Care Center

4285 KENT RD
STOW, OH 44224
(330) 686-2545

Stow Glen Health Care Center is a for-profit nursing home. Its legal name is Stow-Glen, Inc. According to Medicare, it is a 3-Star facility. This means that is considered average.

However, U.S. News & World Report rates this as a “below average” nursing home.

Arbors at Stow

2910 L’ERMITAGE PL
STOW, OH 44224
(330) 688-1188

Arbors at Stow is a 3-Star average nursing home, according to Medicare’s data. Its legal name is Stow Opco, LLC. It is a for-profit corporation. U.S. News & World Report rates this as a “below average” nursing home.

Altrcare Post-Acute Center Rehab

1463 TALLMADGE ROAD
KENT, OH 44240
(330) 296-6415

Altercare Post-Acute Rehab Center is considered a 5-Star nursing home. Medicare considers this nursing home to be much above average. U.S. News & World Report rates this nursing home as “above average,” the second highest rating it gives.

It is a for-profit corporation that is part of the Altercare chain. Its legal name is Altercare Post-Acute Rehab Center, Inc.

Heather Knoll Retirement Village

1134 NORTH AVE
TALLMADGE, OH 44278
(330) 688-8600

Heather Knoll has a 4-Star rating from Medicare. U.S. News & World Report rates this nursing home as “above average,” the second highest rating it gives. It is a for-profit corporation. Its legal name is Heather Knoll Retirement Village, Inc.

The Briarwood

3700 ENGLEWOOD DRIVE
STOW, OH 44224
(330) 688-1828

The Briarwood is considered a 3-Star facility. This is considered average. However, as of December 2017, The Briarwood had not submitted sufficient staffing data to allow Medicare to fully rate the facility.

Altercare Transitional Care of the Western Reserve

5000 SOWUL BOULEVARD
STOW, OH 44224
(330) 653-8722

Altercare Transitional Care of the Western Reserve, Inc. is a for-profit corporation that is part of the Altercare chain. It has an overall rating of 5-Stars, according to Medicare. This is considered much above average. U.S. News & World Report rates it as a “top performing” nursing home.

Arbors at Streetsboro

1645 MAPLEWOOD DR
STREETSBORO, OH 44241
(330) 626-3031

The legal name of Arbors at Streetsboro is Streetsboro Opco, LLC. It is a for-profit corporation. Medicare gives it an overall rating of 3-Stars. U.S. News & World Report considers it a “below average” nursing home.

Woodlands Health & Rehab Center

6831 NORTH CHESTNUT STREET
RAVENNA, OH 44266
(330) 297-4564

Medicare gives Woodlands Health & Rehab Center an overall rating of 4-Stars. Medicare considers this nursing to be above average. U.S. News & World Report consider it a “below average” nursing home.

Essex Healthcare of Tallmadge

563 COLONY PARK DRIVE
TALLMADGE, OH 44278
(330) 630-9780

Essex Healthcare of Tallmadge is rated as an overall “below average” nursing home with only 2-Stars, according to Medicare. It does manage to get a 4-Star rating for staffing, but as we have reported previously, these staffing ratings should be viewed with caution. There are known ways that nursing home bump their staffing ratings.

U.S. News & World Report considers it a “below average” nursing home.

Altercare of Cuyahoga Falls Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing

2728 BAILEY RD
CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH 44221
(330) 929-4231

According to Medicare, Altercare of Cuyahoga falls is “much above average,” receiving a 5-Star rating. It is a for-profit facility that is part of the Altercare chain of nursing homes. U.S. News & World Report considers this a “top performing” nursing home.

Summit Villa Care Center

330 SOUTHWEST AVE
TALLMADGE, OH 44278
(330) 633-0555

Summit Villa Care Center has an overall rating of 1-Star. This is as bad as it gets using Medicare’s data. Medicare considers Summit Villa Care Center to be much below average when compare to all other nursing homes.

U.S. News & World Report considers it a “below average” nursing home.

Falls Village Retirement Community

330 BROADWAY EAST
CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH 44221
(330) 945-9797

Falls Retirement Village Community gets an overall rating of 5-Stars from Medicare. This is considered much above average. Falls Village is a for-profit business, but it is not a corporation.

Despite the high marks from Medicare, U.S. News & World rates this nursing home only as “average.”

Heritage of Hudson

1212 WEST BARLOW ROAD
HUDSON, OH 44236
(330) 650-0023

Heritage of Hudson has received a 4-Star rating from Medicare. This means Medicare considers it to be an above average facility. It is a for-profit corporation. Its proper business name is Hudson Health and Rehabilitation Center, Inc.

U.S. News & World Report rates this as an “average” nursing home.

Seasons Nursing & Rehabilitation

456 SEASONS RD
STOW, OH 44224
(330) 688-5553

Season Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a 5-Star facility, according to Medicare. It is considered much above average. This is an “above average” nursing home, according to U.S. News & World Report. It’s legal business name is Seasons Healthcare Group, LLC. It is a for-profit business.

Longmeadow Care Center

565 BRYN MAWR
RAVENNA, OH 44266
(330) 297-5781

Longmeadow Care Center is a “below average” nursing home, receiving only 2-Stars from Medicare.  U.S. News & World Report also considers this a “below average” nursing home. It is a for-profit corporation. Its legal name is Embassy Longmeadow, LLC.

Hudson Elms Nursing Home

563 W STREETSBORO ROAD
HUDSON, OH 44236
(330) 650-0436

Hudson Elms Nursing Home is an overall 1-Star nursing home. This means that when Medicare compares it to all other nursing homes on basic quality measures, staffing, health inspections, and similar measures, it is far below average. U.S. News & World Report rates Hudson Elms as a “below average” nursing home.

Wayside Farm Inc.

4557 QUICK RD
PENINSULA, OH 44264
(330) 923-7828

Wayside Farm, Inc. is a nursing home in the Akron-Kent area that received a 1-Star for health inspection ratings. It has not been rated for staffing because it has not submitted all of the necessary information. It does not have an overall rating. Wayside Farms, Inc. is a “below average” nursing home, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Wayside Farm, Inc. is a for-profit corporation.

Crown Center at Laurel Lake

200 LAUREL LAKE DR
HUDSON, OH 44236
(330) 650-0681

Crown Center at Laurel Lake is a nursing home Medicare considers above average, using the nursing home compare model. It has received 4-Stars. Its legal name is Laurel Lake Retirement Community, Inc. U.S. News & World Report considers this an “average” nursing home.

Bath Creek Estates

186 WEST BATH ROAD
CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH 44223
(330) 922-9911

Bath Creek Estates has received a 4-Star rating from Medicare. Medicare considers this nursing home to be above average. It is a for-profit corporation. Its proper legal name is Bath Creek Healthcare Group, Inc. U.S. News & World Report rates this as an “above average” nursing home.

Continuing Healthcare of Cuyahoga Falls

300 EAST BATH ROAD
CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH 44223
(330) 929-6272

Continuing Healthcare of Cuyahoga Falls is a 3-Star nursing home. Medicare considers this nursing home to be average. It is a non-profit corporation.

Avenue of Aurora

425 SOUTH CHILLICOTHE ROAD
AURORA, OH 44202
(330) 995-0094

Avenue of Aurora is a 5-Star nursing home, according to Medicare’s data. Its legal name is Progressive Aurora, LLC. U.S. News & World Report rates Avenue at Aurora as a “top performing” nursing home.

Heartland of Twinsburg

8551 DARROW ROAD
TWINSBURG, OH 44087
(330) 486-9402

Heartland of Twinsburg has received a 4-Star rating from Medicare. Medicare considers this nursing home to be above average. It is owned by Manorcare Health Services, LLC. It is a for-profit corporation. U.S. News & World Report rates this as an “above average” nursing home.

Aurora Manor Special Care Center

101 BISSELL RD
AURORA, OH 44202
(440) 424-4000

Aurora Manor Special Care Center, or Aurora Manor Limited Partnership as it is formally known, is a nursing home in Aurora, Ohio that has received 4-Stars. It is a for-profit corporation. U.S. News & World Report rates Aurora Manor as a “top performing” nursing home.

Manor of Grande Village

2610 EAST AURORA ROAD
TWINSBURG, OH 44087
(330) 963-3600

Manor of Grande Village has received 5-Stars from Medicare. Its legal business name is GV Manor, Inc. It is a for-profit corporation. Manor of Grande Village is rated as an “above average” facility by U.S. News & World Report.

Anna Maria of Aurora

889 NORTH AURORA ROAD
AURORA, OH 44202
(330) 562-6171

Anna Maria of Aurora, Inc. is a 5-Star nursing home in Aurora, Ohio. Medicare has rates this nursing home as “much above average.” U.S. News & World Report rates this as an “above average” nursing home.

Kensington at Anna Maria

849 NORTH AURORA ROAD
AURORA, OH 44202
(330) 562-3120

Medicare has rated Kensington at Anna Maria as average, giving it a 3-Star rating. Its legal name is R&G Nursing Care, Inc. It is a for-profit corporation. This is an “average” nursing home, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Altercare of Hartville

1420 SMITH KRAMER ROAD
HARTVILLE, OH 44632
(330) 877-2666

Altercare of Hartville is a nursing home that is part of the Altercare chain. Medicare has given it a 5-Star rating. It is a for-profit corporation. U.S. News & World Report has rated this nursing home as “above average.”

Legacy Place Twinsburg

9928 VAIL DRIVE
TWINSBURG, OH 44087
(330) 405-6040

Medicare has rated Legacy Place Twinsburg as a 5-Star nursing home. It is a for-profit corporation called Legacy Place Twinsburg, LLC. U.S. News & World Report has rated this nursing home as “above average.”

Avenue at Madeconia

9730 VALLEY VIEW ROAD

MACEDONIA, OH 44056
(330) 748-8800

Avenue at Macedonia is a nursing home that has not yet been rated by Medicare. U.S. News & World Report has also not rated this nursing home.