A former intern at Kaweah Manor Convalescent Hospital in Visalia, a city approximately 190 miles north of Los Angeles, has been accused of using hospital records to steal patients' identities. 

Ratoni Brown, 28, is facing felony charges for possession of stolen property, financial elder abuse, identity theft, and burglary.  Her boyfriend, who was also involved in the scheme, faces similar charges.

Brown allegedly took names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers from patients' records, which her boyfriend, Paul Lopez, used to apply for credit cards and loans on the Internet.

Elder Abuse Cases & Personal Injury Law

Elder abuse does not just include neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. Countless elderly people fall victim to financial abuse every year, whether by a loved one, caretaker, nursing home, or hospital worker, as is the case involving Brown and Lopez.

There are certain signs you can look for if you think your loved one may be a victim of financial elder abuse.  Some signs include:

• Your loved one suddenly made a change to his or her will or trust
• Your loved one withdrew large sums of cash for no apparent reason
• There appear to be "shady" transactions on his or her bank statements

If you believe your loved one is the victim of financial elder abuse, you should speak with a Los Angeles elder abuse attorney who can investigate the situation further to ensure he or she is not being subjected to:

• Neglect
• Physical Abuse
• Psychological Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Harassment

If you think someone you love is being abused by a caretaker or nursing home aide, an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can review your case to determine if you have a valid claim.  If it is discovered that your loved one is being abused--physically, emotionally, or financially--you may be able to recover compensation.  To learn more about your rights under the law, please take a moment to fill out this free case evaluation form, and an experienced attorney at the Law Office of Lee Arter will get back to you shortly.

For more information, contact the Law Office of Lee Arter today!