A large senior care facility operator, along with others, have been hit with what is reportedly the largest COVID-19 lawsuit proposed over the coronavirus outbreak.
Global News Canada reports that Extendicare and other Ontario long-term care providers have been hit with claims they failed to properly handle COVID-19 outbreaks at its nursing homes. Plaintiffs are seeking over $500 million in damages in this case. The complaint also names various government agencies and the cities of Toronto, Essex, Hamilton, and Ottawa as defendants.
In addition, Extendicare is facing another $200 million class action lawsuit alleging the nursing home operator was negligent in its response to coronavirus.
Second Wave Brings Dire Conditions at Ontario Nursing Homes
The initial wave of COVID-19 devastated long-term care facilities in Ontario. Nursing home residents are particularly susceptible to the virus and more likely to suffer severe and even deadly conditions after contracting the coronavirus. In addition, nursing homes were accused of failing to properly protect their residents by not providing proper protective equipment and implementing distancing measures.
It appears that many of Ontario’s long term care facilities failed to heed lessons learned during the first wave of the virus. Both the class action lawsuit filed against Extendicare and the COVID-19 lawsuit claiming a half a billion in damages say that Ontario’s nursing homes should have been, but were not ready for the second, predicted, wave.
“We have many questions as to why Tendercare was not prepared for the second wave and why Tendercare was not able to protect my grandmother,” said one of the plaintiffs who alleges he lost his grandmother to COVID-19 in the Extendicare class action lawsuit in a statement.
Extendicare Cited for COVID-19 Outbreaks
Global News reports that a government inspection recently warned that one of the facilities operated by Extendicare was still in violation of protocols meant to prevent the spread of infection.
“Extendicare owns or manages the two most severely devastated long-term care facilities in Ontario,” a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the Extendicare class action lawsuit said in a statement. “Extendicare continues to be cited for infractions regarding infection control.
Despite continued criticism of its facilities’ conditions, according to Stockhouse.com, the operator gave $10 million in shareholder dividends in 2020, drawing the ire of government representatives.
Canada’s Largest COVID-19 Lawsuit Names 11 Nursing Homes
According to a press release by the lawyers representing the lead plaintiffs in the largest COVID-19 lawsuit, more than 11 Ontario nursing homes are named in the complaint. These homes are operated by Extendicare, Chartwell, and Sienna.
“Nothing was learned in round one,” said a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the statement “This is paired with the fact that vaccine delays are causing deaths in these facilities daily. The government, along with these providers, has failed and continues to turn their back on these families.”
“If not for the utter disregard of human life and negligence of this home, my cousin would still be alive,” a plaintiff in the class action reportedly said.
This COVID-19 lawsuit seeks to represent current and former residents of these facilities.
The Extendicare class action lawsuit seeks to represent all residents of an Extendicare facility as of Jan. 25, 2020, along with the estates of those residents who have died. The nursing homes class action lawsuit also proposed to represent family members of Extendicare residents.
Experts Say COVID-19 Response Sign of Bigger Problems
According to Sharon Sholzberg-Gray C.M., a recipient of the Order of Canada in 2018 for her leadership in health care, the devastation COVID-19 had on nursing homes in the country is due to a lack of infrastructure and oversight of the industry.
“Long-term care homes don’t hire full time staff; they hire contract workers, whom they don’t pay nearly enough and who have to work in a number of facilities to make ends meet. This is how COVID-19 spreads,” Sholzberg-Gray told Top Class Actions in a July interview.
Are you or a loved one a resident at a long-term care facility in Ontario? Are you concerned about a second wave of coronavirus at Ontario’s nursing homes? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!
The lead plaintiffs and proposed Class Members in the Extendicare class action lawsuit are represented by Thomson Rogers and Will Davidson LLP.
The lead plaintiffs and proposed Class Members in the Ontario Nursing Home COVID-19 lawsuit are represented by Diamond and Diamond Lawyers.
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One thought on Extendicare Named in Canada’s Largest COVID-19 Lawsuit Launched Against Nursing Homes
My mother in law died recently from covid 19, she was one of the residence of Tendercare. Her death was devastating and could have prevented. She was a heathly lady. Extendicare should be held responsible fir her senseless death. None of het grandchildren got to see the last of het do to covid restrictions