Veterans Being Harmed By Contract Staff…And They Are Going Back To Court

DETROIT, April 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Michigan AFSCME Council 25, AFL-CIO:

Today, Veteran Anthony Spallone heads back to court on behalf of the veterans at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans (GRHV), to block the repeated harm and neglect they are facing at the hands of J2S Corporation caregivers. In 2011, Plaintiff Spallone filed a lawsuit, and the court temporarily blocked Governor Snyder from removing the state-employed caregivers at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, and replacing them with J2S contract caregivers. The court expressed that it was "very concerned" about the many instances of veterans being harmed and neglected. The J2S contract ultimately proceeded in 2013. Yet, the February 2016 Auditor General report on the GRHV confirmed Plaintiff Spallone's warnings about the woefully inadequate care being offered by J2S. 

Spallone now makes the following statement:

"Through a series of destructive decisions, Governor Rick Snyder exemplifies a callous bean-counter when running government, prioritizing anticipated (yet not realized) financial savings over life. The residents of Flint Michigan consuming poisonous water, the students and employees of Detroit Public Schools forced to learn/work in the dangerous and dilapidated school buildings, the state prisoners who consumed maggot-infested food served by Aramark, and others have assumed the risk of these decisions. And for the last several years, our nation's veterans who live at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans have suffered while our Governor (mis)counted beans." 

The Spallone complaint points out examples of harm still being suffered:

• A J2S caregiver was untrained in using a "hoyer lift" to move an invalid veteran from the wheelchair to the bed. The veteran fell, gashing his head and causing blood to flow.  He was taken to the hospital.
• One J2S caregiver intimidated a wheelchair-bound veteran, barking at him "go sit your ass down over there" when he merely asked for supplies for his room.
• J2S caregivers failed to clean the wound dressing of a veteran who had surgery. Maggots were seen on the veteran's skin in the wound.
• Invalid veterans sit in their stool and urine for hours, as understaffed J2S caregivers scramble. 

Plaintiff Spallone adds the following:

"We as veterans had the right caregivers before J2S came in. Now, we are suffering again with J2S. We need dedicated people and we deserve the best care. We should have our home adequately staffed. After serving our country, we came here as our last resting place before we die.  Give us some dignity in our final years!"

Spallone brings this claim against J2S, seeking that the Court block the harm being suffered and asking for $5 million.               

SOURCE Michigan AFSCME Council 25, AFL-CIO