Elder Abuse Lawyer in Los Angeles: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys

Elder abuse lawyer in Los Angeles from Lederer & Nojima is for families who suspect a parent or spouse is being hurt, neglected or exploited in a care home or by a caregiver and want it stopped and answered for, so you can protect your loved one and your legal rights.

Elder abuse is more than a physical attack. California law covers physical abuse, neglect, abandonment, isolation and financial abuse, and it protects adults 65 and older as well as dependent adults with disabilities. It happens at home, in assisted living, in residential care homes and in skilled nursing facilities. The responsible party can be an individual caregiver, a staffing agency, a facility owner or a family member who controls the person's money.

The warning signs are easy to explain away: unexplained bruises or fractures, pressure sores, sudden weight loss, dehydration, repeated falls, medication errors, abrupt changes to a will or bank account, and a loved one who becomes withdrawn or afraid of a caregiver. Families often wait because they are not sure. A call costs nothing and tells you whether what you saw is worth pursuing.

David Lederer and John Nojima spent years defending insurance companies. They know how care facilities document a resident's care, how they answer a complaint, and what the records show when staffing and supervision did not match what the family was promised.

The Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (Welfare and Institutions Code section 15600 and following) sets the rules. If a defendant is liable for physical abuse, neglect or abandonment and acted with recklessness, oppression, fraud or malice, proven by clear and convincing evidence, section 15657 adds attorney's fees and costs and lets the estate recover the older adult's pain and suffering after death. That is a higher bar than an ordinary negligence claim, and it is why the records matter so much.

Deadlines vary with the claim. Most California personal injury claims must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). Claims against a health care provider for professional negligence are shorter in many cases: one year from discovery, and no more than three years from the injury (section 340.5). Claims against a government-run facility can require written notice within six months. Do not guess; call so the right deadline is protected.