The plaintiffs allege our client was guilty of negligent and intentional conduct in that it failed to provide adequate services to Kenneth, Jr. and allowed him to be abused by our client’s staff and other residents resulting in the decline of his condition and behavioral changes thereby resulting in the prescription and administration of the psychotropic medications including Depakote in addition to Risperdal, and its generic form, Risperidone. Further, the plaintiffs allege that as a result of the unnecessary and prolonged administration of the psychotropic medications, Kenneth, Jr. suffered from severe side effects, including the onset of Tardive Dyskinesia, which can result from the use of Risperdal/Risperidone and Depakote. The Plaintiff also alleged that Frances House violated the ID/DD …show more content…
The plaintiffs further allege that our client failed to adequately monitor Kenneth, Jr. after the medication was administered to detect side effects as a result of our client’s facility being understaffed. In addition, the plaintiffs allege that our client overstated or poorly reported Kenneth, Jr.’s behavioral issues, such as aggressiveness and mood disorders, in order to have his physicians continue the prescriptions. Our investigation suggests that at least two of Kenneth, Jr.’s personal physicians prescribed the psychotropic medications for him and that Frances House administered the medication per the physicians’ orders. It should be noted that the plaintiffs’ attorneys have claimed that there are purportedly two former Frances House employees who allegedly claim that Frances House overmedicated Kenneth, Jr. in order to calm him during his episodes of aggressiveness. However, the plaintiffs testified that these former employees never notified them that the staff at Ridge Terrace ever overmedicated Kenneth, Jr. and the employees informed us in our interviews that they are not aware of Kenneth, Jr. taking psychotropic medications in doses in excess of the