Connect with us

Louisiana

Settlement offers nearly $9M to Louisiana nursing home residents kept in warehouse during hurricane

Published

1 year ago

on

Settlement offers nearly M to Louisiana nursing home residents kept in warehouse during hurricane


NEW ORLEANS — Some of the elderly residents of seven Louisiana nursing homes who were sent in 2021 to ride out Hurricane Ida in a crowded, ill-equipped warehouse are being offered shares of a nearly $9 million settlement after they sued.

Retired state judge William “Rusty” Knight told The Times-Picayune of New Orleans that all the 427 former residents who filed legal claims are being sent letters outlining the proposed settlement. Knight said amounts differ based on patients’ individual circumstances.

People who don’t contest the amount offered can expect to receive money within a few weeks. A hearing for those who want to fight the settlement will be held in January.

“It’s been a longer road getting here than we wanted it to be,” Knight said. “Nobody’s getting what they should. quite frankly, because there’s not enough money.”

Advertisement

Bob Dean Jr., 70, owned seven nursing homes in New Orleans and southeast Louisiana. As Ida approached, Dean moved hundreds of residents into a building in the town of Independence, roughly 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans.

Authorities said conditions at the warehouse deteriorated rapidly after the powerful storm hit on Aug. 29, 2021. They found ill and elderly bedridden people on mattresses on the wet floor, some crying for help, some lying in their own waste. Civil suits against Dean’s corporation said the ceiling leaked and toilets overflowed at the sweltering warehouse, and there was too little food and water.

Within days after the storm hit, the state reported the deaths of seven of the evacuees, five of them classified as storm-related.

By the time Dean was arrested on state charges in June 2022, he had lost state licenses and federal funding for his nursing homes. Dean pleaded no contest to 15 criminal counts in July and was sentenced to three years of probation, paying $258,000 in restitution and more than $1 million as a penalty.

Last month, Dean agreed to pay $8.2 million to the federal government to settle allegations that he misused assets and income from four nursing homes whose loans were insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Prosecutors say he funneled nursing home money to his personal bank accounts, using the money to buy antiques, guns and cars.

Advertisement

But Dean also faced civil lawsuits or legal claims from 427 of the 843 patients who were taken to Independence, or their surviving relatives. Many of the plaintiffs and their lawyers have suggested Dean was hiding other assets.

“There’s no true justice after what my clients endured,” attorney Matthew Hemmer, who represents hundreds of nursing home victims, told WVUE-TV.

Knight said he knows of 165 of Dean’s former residents who have died since the evacuation, and he said he expects to learn more people have died as responses to the settlement offer are returned.



Source link

Advertisement
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Louisiana

Louisiana has the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the nation. See the parish data.

Published

8 hours ago

on

March 5, 2026

By

Louisiana has the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the nation. See the parish data.


Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, with an estimated 333,830 new cases and 36,320 deaths projected for 2026 for the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. 

In the U.S., there are approximately 116 new prostate cancer cases per 100,000 people annually. Louisiana has the highest prostate cancer incidence rate in the country at 147.2 cases per 100,000 — a rate that has been steadily rising since 2014, according to data from the National Cancer Institute. 






Advertisement

New prostate cancer drug can extend life expectancy by 8 months, Baton Rouge doctor says

These parishes had the highest rates, in cases per 100,000, of prostate cancer from 2018 to 2022, in descending order: 

  • West Feliciana Parish with 218.6 cases per 100,000; 
  • Iberville Parish with 182.3 cases per 100,000; 
  • Bienville Parish with 179.7 cases per 100,000; 
  • West Baton Rouge Parish with 179.4 cases per 100,000; 
  • Vermillion Parish with 176.5 cases per 100,000; 
  • Iberia Parish with 173.8 cases per 100,000; 
  • East Baton Rouge Parish with 173.6 cases per 100,000; 
  • East Carroll Parish with 172.9 cases per 100,000; 
  • East Feliciana Parish with 166.3 cases per 100,000; 
  • Tangipahoa Parish with 166.2 cases per 100,000; 
  • St. Martin Parish with 166 cases per 100,000; 
  • Jackson Parish with 165.3 cases per 100,000; 
  • and Lincoln Parish with 165.1 cases per 100,000. 

These parishes had the lowest rates, in cases per 100,000, of prostate cancer from 2018 to 2022, in ascending order: 

  • Cameron Parish with 101 cases per 100,000; 
  • Evangeline Parish with 102.7 cases per 100,000; 
  • Union Parish with 106.9 cases per 100,000; 
  • Winn Parish with 108.2 cases per 100,000; 
  • Vernon Parish with 109.4 cases per 100,000; 
  • Grant Parish with 109.7 cases per 100,000; 
  • Franklin and La Salle parishes with 111 cases per 100,000; 
  • St. Bernard Parish with 113.9 cases per 100,000; 
  • Tensas Parish with 115.2 cases per 100,000; 
  • Terrebonne Parish with 117.5 cases per 100,000; 
  • Washington Parish with 121.1 cases per 100,000; 
  • Livingston Parish with 122.8 cases per 100,000; 
  • Sabine Parish with 122.9 cases per 100,000; 
  • Bossier Parish with 123.7 cases per 100,000;
  • and La Fourche Parish with 124.8 cases per 100,000.

Data represents an annual average for all stages of prostate cancer.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Louisiana

Shavers leads ULM past Louisiana 79-63

Published

20 hours ago

on

March 5, 2026

By

Shavers leads ULM past Louisiana 79-63


PENSACOLA, Fla. — Marcavia Shavers posts 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead ULM Warhawks women’s basketball past Louisiana 79-63 in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

ULM (15-15, 7-11 Sun Belt) took control early, outscoring Louisiana 17-7 in the first quarter and extending the lead to 41-21 by halftime. The Warhawks never trailed and led by as many as 28 points in the second quarter.

Shavers anchored the inside for ULM, finishing 9-of-15 from the field with 13 rebounds. Jazmine Jackson added 17 points off the bench, knocking down four 3-pointers, while J’Mani Ingram scored 16 points and dished out six assists.

ULM shot 46.9% from the field and held a 42-27 advantage on the boards. The Warhawks also converted Louisiana turnovers into 29 points and scored 26 second-chance points.

Advertisement

Louisiana (5-26, 2-16 Sun Belt) was led by Mikaylah Manley with 18 points and Imani Daniel with 17 points and seven rebounds. Amijah Price chipped in 12 points.

After struggling early, Louisiana shot better in the second half, scoring 42 points after the break. However, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

ULM advances in the Sun Belt tournament, while Louisiana closes its season with the loss.
————————————————————
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.

To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.

Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers

Advertisement

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Subscribe to our Youtube channel





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Louisiana

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

Published

1 day ago

on

March 4, 2026

By

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race


BATON ROUGE (KNOE) – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Jeff Landry of interfering with the state Senate race, which Fleming is a part of.

Fleming took to social media to accuse Landry of working “behind the scenes” to get Congresswoman Julia Letlow elected to the Senate.

According to Fleming, Dr. Ralph Abraham offered him the position of Deputy Director of the CDC shortly before announcing he was stepping down. Fleming said he politely declined.

A week later, news broke that Abraham is now leading Letlow’s Senate campaign.

Advertisement

“We know that Jeff has been heavily lobbying the Trump campaign team for the endorsement, he is pressuring the Republican Party of Louisiana and the Republican Executive Committees to support and endorse Letlow as well,” Fleming wrote on Facebook. “And, he is personally calling his donors to raise big money to save the Letlow campaign.

Landry formally endorsed Letlow for the U.S. Senate on March 4. Letlow also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

“We need a warrior who stands with the President to Make America Great. And there’s no greater warrior than a Louisiana mom,” Landry wrote on Facebook.

Fleming continued his commentary, asking when Landry will stop interfering with the state’s Senate race.

“Who is best to decide who represents you in Washington? Jeff Landry, or YOU?” Fleming asked.

Advertisement

Also in the heated race is incumbent Bill Cassidy, M.D.

Party primary elections in Louisiana are set for May 16, 2026.

Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending