On March 3, 2026, a Sacramento County jury sent a clear message to the senior living industry: Safety is not negotiable. The jury awarded $110 million to the family of Mildred Hernandez, a 100-year-old resident with Alzheimer’s who wandered away from Greenhaven Estates, an assisted living facility in Sacramento. Left unattended in the early morning hours of February 2019, Mrs. Hernandez was later found unresponsive outside, having succumbed to hypothermia in 38-degree weather.
Premises Liability vs. Corporate Oversight. The trial lasted two months and the evidence revealed a disturbing pattern that goes beyond a single unlocked door. Evidence suggested that the facility’s owners—including a private equity firm and a real estate investment trust (REIT)—prioritized corporate profits over the fundamental safety of their residents.
From a litigation standpoint, this case highlights two major pillars of personal injury law:
- Premises Liability & The “Duty of Care”: Assisted living facilities aren’t just landlords; they are providers of specialized care. For a resident with Alzheimer’s, a “dangerous condition” isn’t just a slippery floor – it’s an unmonitored exit. The jury found that the facility failed its duty to provide adequate supervision and security measures.
- Wrongful Death & Punitive Damages: While no amount of money can replace a loved one, the $110 million award (which includes significant punitive damages) serves a dual purpose: it compensates the family for an unimaginable loss and punishes the corporate entities to deter future negligence.
Why This Verdict Matters for Sacramento Families – If you have a loved one in a managed care facility in Elk Grove, Sacramento, or the surrounding areas, this case underscores a harsh reality: understaffing and administrative shortcuts can be fatal. When corporate entities reduce “boots on the ground” to satisfy shareholders, the “Standard of Care” inevitably drops. This verdict proves that California juries will not tolerate the commodification of our seniors. It serves as a warning to facilities statewide that the cost of neglect far outweighs the cost of proper staffing and safety protocols.
As trial lawyers our goal is to obtain a “full cup of justice” for our clients. Often, a lawsuit is the only way to force a large corporation to change its behavior. By holding these entities accountable in a court of law, we aren’t just winning a case; we are advocating for higher safety standards for every resident in every facility across Northern California.
“Representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty. Without them we have no other fortification against being ridden like horses, fleeced like sheep, worked like cattle and fed and clothed like swine and hounds.” – John Adams, 1774
We represent people injured as a result of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. Insurance companies have paid our clients hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation because we uncover the facts. When insurance companies fail to offer full compensation; we are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 916-714-7672 or visit www.gblegal.com