Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News
Terracina Grand Senior Living maintenance man Robert D. Ganassin has been arrested and charged with molesting an elderly dementia patient at the facility in Naples, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
According to deputies, the patient's daughter filed a report against the facility for a "suspicious incident against the elderly." She told deputies that a ripped off pair of adult diapers that her mother wears were found on two separate occasions - once under the bed and a second time under the bathroom sink.
The report says that Ganassin was found in the victim's room with the door locked on several occasions. During one incident, he was discovered hiding under her bathroom sink.
The woman's daughter told deputies that she installed a CCTV camera in her residence because of concerns regarding her mother's safety. According to deputies, the camera captured footage of Ganassin inappropriately touching the victim and attempting to sexually assault her, but that she was able to fight off the attempted assault.
According to the CCSO, Director Tracy Hooks and other Terracina Grand staff members were contacted about the case and an internal investigation was conducted. However, the facility said that they found an inconsistency in one of the reported statements and decided to close the case.
Deputies contacted Hooks again this month and notified her of the most recent investigation. Hooks discovered that the building's camera system had been tampered with and restored the system. Following this restoration, staff discovered that Ganassin was the only person entering or leaving the area after the camera system had been tampered with.
Ganassin was notified of the investigation against him on Sunday, August 18 and was suspended from his job pending the outcome of this investigation. He has been charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of an elderly and/or disabled adult, and criminal mischief.
Attorney contributor Michael Haggard who now represents victims of sexual abuse in civil lawsuits. Here are some thoughts from Michael regarding the legal rights of nursing home abuse victims and their families:
Nursing homes have a crucial responsibility to make sure their residents are safe and provided with the quality of care they deserve. These residents and their families deserve respect. When a nursing home resident is sexually abused by a staff member, it's important to both prosecute the abuser and to determine if the facility was partially responsible due to negligence.
For example, if the facility had ignored previous complaints of sexual misconduct involving a staff member, that facility could be considered negligent. In cases of negligence, the victims and their families may have grounds for a lawsuit.
If you or a loved one is a victim of sexual abuse in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you can learn more about your family's legal options by contacting an experienced sexual abuse survivors lawyer.
info@legalherald.com