The Tragic Tale of Levon Ndaw: When Care Turns into Negligence

The halls of the MidSouth Health and Rehabilitation Center were designed to host residents seeking care and a dignified treatment in their vulnerabilities. But in 2017, a silent tragedy was unfolding right within those halls. Levon Ndaw, an elderly resident entrusted to the facility's care, became a stark emblem of the perils of the nursing home's negligence.

A Matter of Negligence

Ms. Ndaw developed pressure sores, a totally preventable condition with attentive care,
however, the condition quickly snowballed into a medical nightmare. The condition deteriorated,
thanks to the staff's glaring negligence in routine turning and repositioning. These sores grew in severity, leading to distressing infections that only seemed to get worse.
Eventually, Ms. Ndaw would need surgical attention, but the ramifications of gross negligence and prolonged neglect were irreversible. The procedures she underwent and prescribed painkillers did little to stem these neglect-induced complications, culminating in her sad and untimely passing.
Her family were shattered and beyond grief. They needed answers to pressing questions and
some justice for Ms. Ndaw, even in death. That's why they entrusted Jehl Law Group, PLLC, with the responsibility of seeking justice for their loved one.

Fighting for Justice

The battle in court took a surprising turn when both the nursing home and its management
company displayed an unacceptable lack of accountability. They opted to remain unresponsive to the lawsuit. Given this absence of acknowledgment or lack thereof, the court promptly decided to grant a default judgment against the responsible entities.
What followed was a bench trial convened by the court to determine the magnitude of damages owed for the grievous harm inflicted upon Ms. Ndaw. The proceedings, overseen by the Jehl Law Group, PLLC, unveiled a tragic narrative of Ms. Ndaw’s final days. For all its order and decorum, the courtroom echoed with the emotional testimonies of her family members, recounting the anguish and unrelenting pain she endured to her last day.
Expert medical testimony further buttressed and properly delineated the vast chasm between the expected standard of care and the actual, deplorable care Ms. Ndaw received. Their inputs
left no doubt about the direct link between the nursing home's negligence and the debilitating
pressure sores that played a significant role in her death.

Attempts to Hide the Truth

The evidence before the court was damning enough, but there was more, thanks to the nursing home's attempt at subterfuge. Disturbing evidence indicated a deliberate act by staff and management to withhold pivotal medical records. Additionally, there was also an insinuation of deceitfully filled information within Ms. Ndaw's records. These were seemingly crafted to deflect blame and accountability from the facility, a chilling testament to their priorities.
More revelations flowed, as Jehl Law Group, PLLC, delved deeper, providing more insight into
the facility's questionable operational ethics. Prevalent chronic understaffing and an alarming
scarcity of vital supplies showcased the terrible side of a facility that seemed to value profitability over resident's well-being.
With the overwhelming evidence of negligence and deceit before it, the court was moved to forgo the standard statutory cap on damages. It recognized MidSouth Health and Rehabilitation
Center's blatant recklessness and undeniable disregard for the residents' safety and welfare.
The court ruled that their actions and inactions towards Ms. Ndaw deserved punitive damages.

A Reward for Persistence

Along with the Ndaw’s, the Jehl Law Group, PLLC's show of persistence was rewarded. The
gravity of the situation saw them obtain a monumental judgment against the MidSouth Health and Rehabilitation Center—a sum of $3,500,000.00.
Ms. Levon Ndaw’s sorrowful narrative provides a perfect reminder of the essential need for humane practices, vigilance, empathy, and reform in elderly care facilities. It's a call for the
healthcare community to reexamine its core values, operations, and to ensure the safety and
dignity of its most vulnerable members.