Attorneys: Charges expected in Florida nursing home deaths

[TexasTowelie]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Defense attorneys said Sunday that arrests are expected shortly in the case of a Florida nursing home where 12 elderly patients died after the complex lost power and was engulfed by sweltering heat when powerful Hurricane Irma struck in 2017.

Lawrence Hashish told The Associated Press his client is one of three nurses, in addition to an administrator, expecting to be charged in connection with the deaths after Hurricane Irma, which blew through Florida on Sept. 10 of that year. The storm knocked out a transformer connecting the main air-conditioning unit to the power grid at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, sending temperatures soaring .

Hashish said the attorneys don’t yet know what the specific charges would be, but he expected it would likely be some form of manslaughter.

Twelve deaths at the center had been ruled homicides . Police have been investigating the deaths for nearly two years but no charges have been filed. A voice message and email left by the AP for Hollywood Police were not immediately returned Sunday.

Read more: https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20190825/attorneys-charges-expected-in-florida-nursing-home-deaths

[Eugene]

1. Florida nursing home employees charged in patient deaths

Source: Associated Press

Florida nursing home employees charged in patient deaths

By KELLI KENNEDY and TERRY SPENCER
August 26, 2019

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Four employees of a Florida nursing home where 12 people died in sweltering heat after a hurricane cut power were charged Monday, at least three of them with aggravated manslaughter, their attorneys said.

Nursing home patients at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, ranging in age from 57 to 99, began dying three days after Hurricane Irma swept through in September 2017.

The center, which housed about 150 patients at the time, did not evacuate any of the residents as the temperature began rising, even though a fully functional hospital was across the street, investigators said. The home’s license was suspended days after the storm and it was later closed.

Former Rehabilitation Center nurse Sergo Colin and administrator Jorge Carballo were each charged with 12 counts of aggravated manslaughter, according to jail records. Nurse Althia Meggie was charged with two counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of tampering with evidence.

All three turned themselves in at the Broward County Jail on Monday and were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, their attorneys said.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/8ac17cbefb1a42bb989dafff29cc4dfe

[TexasTowelie]

2. I just saw that headline in the news as I was browsing through the news.

I'm glad that they are pursuing criminal charges. Thanks for posting.