Class action lawsuit alleges Pa. health department stopped inspecting care facilities

BEAVER CO., Pa. — A class action lawsuit has been filed in Beaver County, accusing the Pennsylvania Department of Health of stopping proper inspections of “long-term care facilities” in the state.

The lawsuit was filed by the daughter of a resident of Brighton Rehabilitation & Wellness Center, which has been a hot spot for COVID-19 cases in our area – especially regarding care facilities.

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According to the lawsuit, safety inspections – which are required by law – have “come nearly to a halt, thereby putting all of the residents … at risk for contracting the coronavirus.”

“Our investigation shows that the Department of Health is not performing legally mandated inspections, including an inspection in relation to a complaint made by Ms. Gill,” said Bob Daley, attorney for Robert Peirce and Associates, in a release. “We are filing this suit to get a court ordered injunction requiring the state to conduct these mandatory inspections.”

We’ll have a live report with the latest details – on 11 News at 5.

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