Firm News

March 4, 2009

Stephen M. Garcia Honored With California Lawyer of the Year Award for His Role in Protecting Seniors from Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect.

On March 2, plaintiff attorney Stephen M. Garcia of The Garcia Law Firm received a California Lawyer 2009 Attorney of the Year (CLAY) award in the Elder Law category for his work in protecting seniors and vulnerable adults from nursing home abuse and neglect.

Using California's Legal Remedies Act, originally designed to protect consumers against fast-talking sales people, Garcia secured more than $21.5 million in class action settlements from some of the largest long-term care facilities in the country. These facilities included Longwood Management, Sunwest Management, Sun-Mar Health Care, Pleasant Care, Horizon West HealthCare and Ensign Group.

In the suits, Garcia alleged that the nursing homes intentionally misrepresented that they provided a particular standard and quality of care that they did not actually provide. The settlement included such innovative characteristics that any money not paid out to class members must be used for resident care and that the facility must hire an independent monitor, selected by Garcia and paid for by the facility, who would do periodic inspections of select facilities.

"This is an enormous honor," says Garcia. "I have been fighting nursing homes and long-term care facilities for quality care for seniors and vulnerable adults for 14 years. The only thing that could be better than this honor from my peers is if long-term care facilities would begin providing the excellent care and services they promise to provide our parents and grandparents."

California Lawyer magazine named 43 attorneys around the state to receive the thirteenth annual California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Awards. In total, 22 accomplishments in 13 areas of legal practice, reflecting the breadth of the California State Bar, were recognized for their profound impact in 2008.

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August 11, 2009
A class action lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court challenging the enactment on Nov. 8, 2008 of the Utility User Tax ("Measure U") More

March 31, 2009
Elder Abuse Complaint Filed Against Extendicare. More

March, 2009
Paper co-written by Stephen Garcia presented at the American Association of Justices symposium in the State of Washington. More

March 4, 2009
Stephen M. Garcia Honored With California Lawyer of the Year Award for His Role in Protecting Seniors from Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect. More

March 3, 2009

Stephen Garcia Faces Off Against Defense Counsel on April 22, 2009 at the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants Conference. More

February 9, 2009
United States District Court Judge Dale Fischer granted preliminary approval for class certification and settlement of class action against Motorola, Plantronics and GN Jabra--the first class ever certified against these wirless giants. Stephen M. Garcia served as lead class counsel as well as laison counsel. More

October 30, 2008
10 Minnesota Nursing Homes Named In Class Action Lawsuit Against Extendicare. More

October 21, 2008
Stephen M. Garcia of The Garcia Law Firm in Long Beach, Calif., was named to the prestigious Lawdragon list of 500 Leading
Lawyers in America. More

October 3, 2008
16 Extendicare Skilled Nursing Facilities Named In Washington Lawsuit - Additional Allegations Filed Against Elder Care Operator. More

August 21, 2008
A class action lawsuit (Case #08-2-28645-2KNT), was filed today in King County Superior Court against Milwaukee-based Extendicare Homes, Inc., Fir Lane Terrace Convalescent Center, Inc. and its 15 long-term skilled nursing facilities in the state of Washington [see list by city at end of release] on behalf of Howard Steele as the personal representative for the estate of Lee Ann Steele and on behalf of all Washington citizens who resided in one of the company’s Washington facilities from July 1, 2004 through July 1, 2008.
More

August 20, 2008
SunMar Healthcare, Inc., SunMar Management, and its 18 California skilled nursing homes recently settled a class action lawsuit (Case #30-200800037875), for $2 million on behalf of Warren Richardson, by and through his Attorney in Fact Marlene Miller, on Richardson's behalf and on behalf of all California citizens who resided in, or are residing in, one of the company's California facilities from Jan. 9, 2005 through Jan. 9, 2008.
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July 15, 2008
Sun Mar Health Care, Inc., Sun Mar Management, and its 18 California skilled nursing homes [see list by city at end of release] settled a class action lawsuit (Case #30-200800037875), for $2 million on behalf of Warren Richardson, by and through his Attorney in Fact Marlene Miller, on Richardson's behalf and on behalf of all California citizens who resided in, or are residing in, one of the company's California facilities from Jan. 9, 2005 through Jan. 9, 2008.
More

May 15, 2008
A class action lawsuit (Case #CV08-03184), was filed today in United States Federal Court, Central District, alleging that State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is enriching itself with payments rightfully belonging to its insureds in violation of California law, particularly the "Make Whole Rule."
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March 20, 2008
ELDER LAW FACE OFF on May 3, 2008: Plaintiff Attorney Stephen Garcia vs Defense Attorney Michael Le Vangie in a trial atmosphere as they engage in a lively and inspiring discussion arguing elder abuse cases and issues while being mediated by Hon. Cecily Bond (Ret).
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February 25, 2008

Stephen M. Garcia and David Medby of The Garcia Law Firm Publish Article on Utilization of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act to Improve Care in Long Term Care Facilities in California.
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February 19, 2008

Stephen M. Garcia of The Garcia Law Firm is named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America
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February 13, 2008

Stephen M. Garcia Featured Speaker at CAHQ Spring Conference, March 10-11, 2008
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January 21, 2008

Sun Mar Health Care Claims Ownership of Sold Facility - Courtyard Healthcare Center Dropped From Class Action -
More

January 11, 2008

The Garcia Law Firm Files Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against 18 California Nursing Homes Operated by Sun Mar Healthcare Alleging Systemic Violations of Law.
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December 18, 2007

Stephen M. Garcia of The Garcia Law Firm is named as Settlement Class Counsel in Acquiring Preliminary Certification of Settlement Relating to Unlawful Schemes of AOL and Best Buy
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December 4, 2007

Stephen Garcia and David Medby of The Garcia Law Firm Acquire Preliminary Class Status and Settlement on Behalf of Thousands of Elder and Infirm Adults Residing in California Sunwest Management Facilities
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Awards & Recognition Stephen Garcia named recipient for California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) award in Elder Law (2009). Read more >

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The Garcia Law Firm has offices located in Long Beach, California (CA) and Phoenix, Arizona (AZ). We serve clients throughout the United States. Our California clients are located in cities that include Los Angeles, Fresno, Long Beach, Anaheim, East L.A., Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Ana, Torrance, Fullerton, Inglewood, Burbank and Compton. Our Washington clients include those in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Federal Way, Spokane, Vancouver and Yakima. Our Arizona clients are located in cities that include Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, Peoria, Flagstaff, Tucson and Yuma.