LA Assisted Living Facility Faces Felony Charges Over Deadly COVID-19 Outbreak
By Meredith Deliso
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that Silverado Senior Living Management, CEO Loren Shook, Administrator Jason Russo, and Vice President Kimberly Butrum face 13 counts of felony elder endangerment and five felony counts of violation causing death in connection with a COVID-19 outbreak. The charges come after a two-and-a-half-year investigation of the outbreak at the assisted living facility, which specializes in the care of elderly residents with Alzheimer's and dementia. Gascón called it "one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19" in an assisted living facility in the state, with 60 residents and 45 employees contracting the virus; 13 residents and a nurse, Brittany Ringo, died as a result. According to prosecutors, Silverado admitted a new resident on March 19, 2020, despite protocols limiting outside visitors, including patients, and allegedly failed to test the patient for COVID-19 or quarantine them for 14 days prior to admission in accordance with health protocols. The patient, who came "directly to the facility from the airport" in New York City, a COVID-19 "hotspot," began showing symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19 the following day. Gascón said, "We have evidence to support that the protocols were not followed due to financial considerations of accepting this patient from New York. We believe that Silverado put the interests and financial gain in profit over the safety considerations for their patients and employees." A lawsuit was filed against Silverado late last year by the relatives of several residents and Ringo's family.
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