A harrowing case of alleged negligence and breach of fiduciary duty has emerged from a nursing home in Florida. The Estate of Joan Julian Ledee, represented by Eileen Jennifer Matthew, filed a complaint on September 11, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County against Senior Health - South Heritage, LLC and other associated entities and individuals.
The lawsuit details a series of allegations concerning the care provided to Joan Julian Ledee during her stay at South Heritage Health and Rehabilitation Center from April 8, 2019, until her discharge on December 21, 2023. According to the complaint, the defendants failed to provide adequate care and supervision for Ledee, resulting in significant harm and ultimately her death on December 29, 2023. The plaintiff accuses Senior Health - South Heritage, LLC; Senior Health South-Ex, LLC; Airamid Health Services, LLC; Brigid Health Services LLC; Samantha White; and Shamika Felicia Jeffers of various forms of negligence and misconduct.
Eileen Jennifer Matthew alleges that the defendants breached their duty to ensure sufficient staffing levels and proper supervision at the facility. She claims that these failures led to inadequate monitoring of Ledee's condition and insufficient medical care. The complaint asserts that "Defendants endangered residents by failing to use reasonable care in accepting and keeping residents in order to obtain maximum census levels," which allegedly prioritized revenue over resident safety.
The plaintiff seeks both non-lethal and lethal negligence damages for bodily injury, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, medical expenses, disability, disfigurement, aggravation of pre-existing conditions, and wrongful death. Additionally, the estate demands judgment for breach of fiduciary duty against Senior Health - South Heritage LLC. They claim that this entity systematically misused funds intended for resident care for its own benefit through inflated inter-company fees and contracts designed to enrich corporate affiliates rather than providing necessary services.
The lawsuit also includes counts against Samantha White and Shamika Felicia Jeffers under Florida Statutes §415.1111 for exploitation of a vulnerable adult. It is alleged that they knowingly deprived Ledee of necessary support by misusing her assets intended for her care.
Plaintiff's counsel Rainey C. Booth Jr., Esq., from Mendes Reins & Wilander PLLC represents the estate in this case filed under Case Number: 24-004061-CI before Judge Ken Burke.