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Editor: Mike Bothwell
Profession: Qui Tam Attorney

Category: Settlements and Verdicts

Pat Meehan, U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia, announced that his office has reached a $700,000 civil settlement with Ivy Ridge Personal Care Center, Inc., Brookwood Personal Care Home, Inc., Conlyn House, Inc., Throughgood, Inc. Health Horizons Unlimited, Inc. and owner Rosalind S. Lavin.

The allegations upon which the settlement are based state that during the time period from September 2000 to current, the named facilities and owners failed to provide necessary care, maintenance, housing, management, and financial assistance to its residents as federal law requires. The allegations also state that the residents of the facilities were placed in extremely unsafe facilities, and their nutrition and living conditions were deplorable. The disbursement of medications and medical needs were grossly inadequate and daily living conditions unacceptable. It is also asserted that the facilities and their owners were diverting the resident's Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits to owners of the facilities for their own personal benefit including, as their salaries.

This settlement states that a payment of $700,000 will be paid by the owners and facilities to the United States, that Ivy Ridge and its owners will no longer operate the Ivy Ridge Facility as a Personal Care Home, and that the facilities and owners are prohibited from ever acting as a representative for purposes of receiving federal government benefits. The facilities and its owners state that this agreement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing.

Announced on June 10, 2008