State Files Civil Suit Against Owners of Nursing Home Chain

In the state’s first civil action against the owners of a chain of nursing homes, Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer on Thursday announced the filing of a complaint alleging serious patient neglect at four facilities.

The complaint alleges dozens of violations of state and federal regulations involving 100 patients who suffered from such problems as dehydration, malnutrition, injuries from falls requiring surgery, and palm-size bedsores deep enough to expose bones.

The targeted homes were Crescent Nursing and Rehabilitation of Indio in Riverside County; Crescent Care Center of Yucca Valley and Crescent Alzheimer’s Care Center, both in San Bernardino County; and Lodi Health Care Center in San Joaquin County.

The complaint against Rocky Lemon of Pacific Palisades and TLC Health Care Inc. was filed earlier this week in Riverside County Superior Court. Lemon did not return calls seeking comment.

It seeks $2 million in civil penalties and restitution of at least $50,000 to the Medi-Cal program for failure to provide adequate care, treatment and services to elderly patients. The complaint also seeks a court order mandating Lemon and TLC Health Care to improve patient services.

“We’re sending out a message that there is going to be more aggressive enforcement and increased efforts to look for horrible cases,” Lockyer said. “Previous administrations directed actions against home staffers. This time we’re hitting the top of the totem pole.”