Nursing home abuse can give rise to both an infraction of civil liability, and a violation of criminal law. Therefore, any person accused of neglecting their duty of care within a care facility might face both a civil lawsuit and a criminal charge.
Even if the parties responsible for maltreatment or abuse are charged with a crime, the abused individual (or his or her family member) must file a separate civil action to pursue compensation.
This civil suit is unrelated to any criminal offense leveled against a defendant. However, it is important to note that if a defendant is convicted of a criminal charge, a jury in a civil claim may be more likely to rule in favor of the plaintiff. A seasoned Biloxi nursing home abuse attorney could help a claimant to understand how criminal charges might impact their claim.