If your elderly loved one was placed in the care of a nursing home, only to have money or personal possessions stolen, the legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help. Stealing, whether it be petty theft or otherwise, is a crime under Illinois General Assembly 720 ILCS 5/16-1. Should your legal team be able to prove that your loved one was the victim of financial abuse, we may be able to pursue economic recovery on your behalf.
Your loved one did not work their entire life to have their savings stolen by an unscrupulous nursing home employee. When their money or belongings suddenly go missing while living in a nursing home facility, they have protections under the law.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we fight hard to represent victims of elder abuse. To start your free consultation with an Oak Park missing money or personal items lawyer, call us without delay.
Missing Money or Personal Items in a Nursing Home
When it comes to theft in a nursing home, it typically involves money or valuable personal items. These types of acts can go unnoticed for months on end and can be perpetrated by a trusted caregiver. Yet, once you discover the theft, the damage is already done.
Examples of Financial Abuse
The National Institute on Aging reports that financial abuse of the elderly can happen to anyone, estimating that hundreds of thousands of seniors face this form of elder abuse every year.
This can manifest as:
- Unauthorized credit card use.
- Unusual bank account activity, including unexplained transactions or a sharp decline in funds.
- Changes to their will.
- Changes to the title of their house or other major properties.
- Forging checks.
- Sudden withdrawals from a resident’s social security benefits or retirement accounts.
Elderly nursing home residents typically do not have forms of income that make up for the losses that result from theft. When you work with our legal staff, we may suggest that our first course of action is to change the information on your loved one’s accounts, cancel credit cards, or take other measures to prevent further loss. From there, we can investigate who is responsible.
For a free legal consultation with a Missing Money or Personal Items Lawyer serving Oak Park, call (800) 794-0444
Property Loss in Nursing Homes
The Illinois Department on Aging provides guidance for people who report abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, and other instances of maltreatment in good faith. Additionally, it mandates that any nursing home employee who is aware of unethical practices (including theft) must report these instances to the appropriate authorities. Failure to do so may implicate them in any questionable activity.
To prevent themselves from being held liable for theft, nursing home administrators may take the following measures:
- Maintaining a documented list of a resident’s possessions.
- Establishing and posting policies regarding theft and investigative procedures.
- Training new employees of expected conduct within their first 30 days of employment.
- Advising residents’ families to be vigilant for changes to their loved ones’ financial records.
While nothing can replace a treasured family heirloom, holding those accountable for theft can serve justice. The value of the items stolen and the emotional toll on your loved one are possible grounds for civil action. To learn more, call an Oak Park missing money or personal items lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today.
Oak Park Missing Money or Personal Items Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Nursing Home Theft and Your Loved One
After we have collected evidence of the financial abuse, we must notify the care facility of our intent to file a civil claim. The nursing home has 60 days from the time they receive our written notice to resolve the situation. If we can provide an approximate value to the cost of your loved one’s losses, the nursing home may opt to reimburse you for those damages. For some people, this is the extent to which they intend to file a civil action. If this does not appeal to you, we can decline the nursing home’s offer and pursue noneconomic damages in addition to what was lost.
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Your Financial Recovery Can Cover Various Costs
Your lawyer may be able to seek recovery for both economic and noneconomic damages. While economic damages will cover the cost of the possessions and money lost, noneconomic damages relate to nontangible items, such as emotional distress.
Should we be able to successfully pursue your case, your compensation may cover:
- The value of lost property.
- The cost of relocating to another care facility.
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience.
- Emotional trauma.
- Follow-up services, such as therapy or other mental health services.
Your window of action for pursuing recovery largely rests on when you discovered the financial abuse. Under Illinois HB5805, you have seven years from the date of the last instance of financial exploitation to seek damages. However, this depends on how much money your loved one lost. An Oak Park missing money or personal items lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will be able to explain what this may mean for your case.
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Our Dedicated Legal Staff Provides Invaluable Services
We are determined to help you and your family get the compensation you need to put this horrible situation behind you.
When you work with us, some of the services that we can provide include:
- Initiating legal action to promote a timely resolution.
- Providing you with any updates regarding your case’s progression.
- Searching for evidence of financial abuse.
- Presenting the nursing home with your grievances and intentions.
- Supporting your family throughout the legal process.
- Negotiating for a fair settlement on your behalf.
- Protecting you from bad faith practices.
Theft of money or personal belongings can leave your loved one feeling violated. At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we want to serve your best interests while we seek justice. When you call us, we offer a free initial case review and charge no fees until we secure compensation for you.
Our nursing home legal team is ready to help your loved one by holding the nursing home and its staff accountable for your losses. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
