Daughters awarded damages in nursing home abuse

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The former owner of an Oklahoma City nursing home must pay a woman’s family more than $1 million in damages after staff were caught abusing the woman on camera.

A jury recently awarded the three daughters of 96-year-old Eryetha Mayberry $1.2 million in compensatory damages and $10,000 in punitive damages. Mayberry died in July 2012.

Mayberry’s family had installed a hidden camera in her room to see who was stealing her belongings at Quail Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

The camera recorded one nurse aide slapping Mayberry in the face while another nurse aide watched in April 2012. Both employees have been fired.

The defense attorney for Westlake Nursing Home Limited Partnership tells The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/17MxzNH ) they are planning an appeal.