Casper nursing home with history of poor care allegations settles most recent lawsuit

A Casper nursing home that’s been repeatedly accused of negligence and poor care settled a lawsuit last month in federal court alleging its staff injured a resident — the latest settlement in a string of legal disputes amid closer governmental oversight due to repeated deficiencies found during health inspections.

The suit alleged that a Poplar Living Center van driven by one of the nursing home’s employees hit a blind resident standing near the curb waiting for a ride in March 2014. The resident, Gilbert Arellano, was knocked to the ground, according to the suit. Since the incident, Arellano has had pain and numbness in his right arm, the suit says.

Ian Sandefer, one of Arellano’s attorneys, said he could not disclose the amount of the settlement reached on Nov. 1 because of a confidentiality agreement. He declined to give any further comment, citing the agreement. The case was officially dismissed Tuesday from the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming.

The nursing home’s settlement was the most recent conclusion to six wrongful death or personal injury lawsuits filed against it in the last six years. Repeated inspections by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also detail a pattern of understaffing, improper care and unsafe building conditions. The federal agency rates the nursing home as “below average” and has classified it as a facility that needs close monitoring because of a “history of persistent poor quality of care.” It is the only nursing home in Casper with that classification.

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