"We connected. We had grandmas to protect."
Jody discussing why she took on Mary Shofner's case - Jenifer's grandmother.
Ms.
Moore opened her own law firm after a personal family tragedy left her
grandmother in the hands of a nursing home, a fate she hoped to avoid.
Her "Grandmother's Story" is also featured below.
WHAT IS ELDER ABUSE? What is the Elder And Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (EADACPA)? In
California, the lawmakers decided to protect seniors over the age of 65
from acts of abuse & neglect. Special protections were put in place
to encourage private lawyers, like Ms. Moore to fight back on behalf of
the vulnerable, elderly population.
Who is protected under the Elder And Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act? Who
is protected and what constitutes elder or dependent adult abuse is
specifically defined by the statute. An elder is anyone over age 65. A
"dependent adult" is any person between the age of 18 and 64 who has
physical or mental limitations that restrict his or her ability to
carry out normal activities or to protect his or her rights.
If
you are a victim of abuse or neglect, or you suspect a loved one is
being neglected, please call us. To learn more about what constitutes
Elder Abuse, click here:
How to Spot Elder Abuse.
OUR LISTENING PROCESS: Call us. We will listen to you
We will
- Help you decide on the next step
- Investigate your concerns or suspicions regarding the care provided to your loved one
- Comb through the records to find the truth about what has occurred
- Help you understand the information the records contain
- Help you be heard by the authorities and to start the complaint process
- Prepare the complaint to put the responsible parties on notice of your lawsuit
- Help you tell your story so the community will know what happened
- Help you be heard
We will provide your loved one with
The Dignity of Being Heard.
OTHER SPECIALTIES: As
you can see, our firm primarily litigates cases involving neglect and
abuse of our elderly, and injuries which arise in a nursing home or
other health care setting. Our practice areas are described in greater
detail below.
Elder Abuse and Neglect Litigation Elder
Abuse and Neglect are terms defined by statutes, and include such
things as malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, falls, broken bones,
physical neglect and physical abuse. Common signs of neglect could be
weight loss, dehydration, bedsores, infections, incontinence, poor
personal hygiene, withdrawal or other unexplained lack of
communication. Physical abuse may include a physical attack or signs of
bruising or broken bones.
Nursing Home or Elder Care Facility Litigation Elder
Abuse and Neglect often occurs in a facility setting, such as a Nursing
Home, an Assisted Living Facility or a Residential Care Facility. The
level of care an elderly person receives at a facility depends on the
type of facility and the scope of the facility's licensure.
Medical Malpractice Medical
Malpractice is the term used to describe the negligent acts of health
care providers, such as doctors and nurses. Often times, elder abuse
cases and medical malpractice cases overlap. Where it is alleged that a
health care provider committed a mistake or had a lapse in judgment,
the case may be one for medical malpractice. Where it is alleged that a
health care provider acted recklessly, purposefully or intentionally in
a manner that was very likely to cause harm or injury, the case may be
one for elder abuse.
Wrongful Death Unfortunately,
many instances of elder abuse and neglect and medical malpractice
result in the premature death of a loved one. When someone dies as a
result of the negligent or improper conduct of another person, a
"wrongful death" lawsuit may be brought.
Catastrophic Personal Injury If
you or a loved one have suffered a catastrophic personal injury, our
firm has the healthcare background to evaluate your injuries and to
take legal action on your behalf.
MY GRANDMA'S STORY: "What
I like about Jody the most is that she had her own story for why she's
doing, what she's doing." - Jenifer Stolz, granddaughter of Mary Shofner 
This
is the story of Grandma Ruth. Ruth was 82, widowed, a mother of 3, a
grandmother of 6. Grandma Ruth bowled in a league every Friday. She led
the water aerobics class once a week. She walked 2 miles every day. She
played Rummy and Mah Jongg with her friends.
Then, the day
after Thanksgiving, she received some disturbing news. She was ill and
needed surgery. Surgery did not go well, and she suffered a stroke. The
stroke left her paralyzed on one side and unable to speak. She was a
woman now trapped in a body that had betrayed her. Her family was told
that she would need to be transferred to a nursing home for further
treatment.
Grandma Ruth was lucky. She had a daughter who had
worked in a nursing home. Another daughter was a stay at home mom and
could spend day and night at her bedside if needed. At the time, I was
an attorney who defended nursing homes for a living. I interviewed
nursing homes, administrators, directors of nursing. I did internet
research and took tours. I called in favors to some local health care
providers.
Grandma Ruth was placed in a local nursing home and
the staff knew that she was being watched out for. They knew her
family, and about my experience with nursing home litigation. Surely, I
thought, if anyone would get good care, Grandma Ruth would.
But,
to the family's surprise, a few days after her admission, even my
grandmother was neglected. She developed a painful bedsore, which was
not treated. She suffered in pain, without the relief of pain
medication. The nursing staff did not evaluate her and did not keep the
family informed. Grandma Ruth suffered in silence, unable to speak,
until Hospice was called in to manage her care. Grandma Ruth died a few
days later. But we will not soon forget the suffering, and how we could
not protect her.
And for that I say, "I'm sorry Grandma."
And then I got mad.
I
got mad because it occurred to me if WE as a family could not ensure
that my grandmother died a peaceful death, one free of neglect, one
free of pain, no one could. If we could not do it, no one can.
So, I quit my job and never looked back.
And for that I say, "Thank you Grandma."
