Lawsuit filed against Bloomfield nursing home
FARMINGTON – Two lawsuits filed against a Bloomfield nursing home allege neglect of patients leading to wrongful death.
In September, a woman filed a lawsuit alleging her grandmother died due to neglect suffered while living at the Bloomfield Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center.
Another lawsuit was filed last week with similar allegations against the nursing home. Garland Kent Wilkinson filed the lawsuit last week alleging that his father, Charlie Wilkinson, died due to neglect.
When reached Wednesday, Bloomfield Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center representatives declined to comment on the lawsuits.
Charlie Wilkinson had a history of delusional psychosis, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, a seizure disorder and dementia, according to the lawsuit. Those medical conditions made it so he had to have supervision, close monitoring and medical attention.
According to the lawsuit, Wilkinson developed pressure sores at the nursing home because of his limited mobility. The lawsuit also alleges that he suffered from malnutrition, weight loss and dehydration.
The lawsuit filed in September by Roxanna Commanche alleges that her grandmother, Jeanette Costeanna, suffered from dehydration, malnutrition and weight loss, and that she developed bed sores while at the nursing home.
Both Commanche and Wilkinson are represented by Mary Ellen Spiece of Wilkes & McHugh, a law office that specializes in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. She could not be reached for comment.
On Dec. 29, a judge granted an extension to the nursing home's motion to dismiss Commanche's lawsuit.
In addition to the two lawsuits against the Bloomfield nursing home, its parent company, Preferred Care Partners Management, was sued by the New Mexico Attorney General in 2014. The lawsuit alleged the company did not adequately staff its nursing homes, which led to the inability to provide adequate care for patients. The company also operates nine other nursing homes in New Mexico. Preferred Care Partners Management could not be reached for comment.
"The case is currently pending in Santa Fe, First Judicial District Court," James Hallinan, a spokesman for the attorney general, wrote in an emailed statement. "The Office of the Attorney General is in the process of conducting discovery and preparing for oral argument in opposition to motions to dismiss filed by the defendants."
Hannah Grover covers Aztec and Bloomfield, as well as general news, for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4652.