Clifton Park man, brother, win $500K South Dakota nursing home suit

MITCHELL, S.D. -- A jury has awarded $500,000 to two sons of a woman who died a month after falling while a resident of Firesteel Healthcare Center in 2006.

David Bumgardner, of Mitchell, and Layne Bumgardner, of Clifton Park, N.Y., were awarded $400,000 for their claim of wrongful death and $100,000 for their survivor claim against Gates Health Services Inc.

The lawsuit stemmed from the death of 100-year-old Helen Bumgardner. It contended she died because of negligence and carelessness at the health care center.

Officials with Gates Health Services declined comment to The Daily Republic in Mitchell on the jury award.

Gates this year sold the Firesteel Healthcare Center to Mission Healthcare LLC.