When you trust a nursing home with someone you love, you expect care and respect — not harm. If a Maryland facility failed them through abuse, a fall, bedsores, malnutrition, or neglect, you are allowed to ask hard questions and to hold them to account.
We handle these cases across the state. Talking to us costs nothing, and you pay nothing unless we win.
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Maryland’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman investigated, verified and resolved 3,312 complaints in a single year, across 6,277 facility visits. Source: Maryland Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes, 2025 report
Nursing home abuse refers to intentional acts that cause harm or create a serious risk of harm, whether physical, emotional, or sexual, to a resident in a care facility. Neglect, on the other hand, involves the failure to meet a resident's basic needs, including providing adequate food, water, shelter, health care, and protection.
These forms of mistreatment can manifest in various ways. Physical abuse includes acts like hitting or shoving, while emotional abuse may involve verbal assaults, threats, or social isolation. Sexual abuse encompasses any non-consensual sexual contact. Neglect might be seen in bedsores from lack of proper care, malnutrition, or unattended medical needs.
At Pinder Plotkin, the initial consultation is free, whether by phone or in person. You have the right to an attorney, and we work on a contingency basis — you do not pay attorney fees up front while dealing with medical bills and lost wages, and our fee comes only after you win.
Pinder Plotkin Legal Team holds a 4.9-star average across 900+ verified client reviews. Here’s what injured Marylanders say about working with us.
I have worked with Pinder Plotkin on a car accident and they were nothing but professional. The whole team were very caring and kept me informed through the whole process. I could not think of a better firm to represent me.More
Received support from Day 1. No question went unanswered and they worked to make sure I was comfortable and understood everything. Very patient in ensuring my needs are met. I am grateful.More
I been a client since 2017 and I had a good experience with them as far as getting results and being treated like family, I had a major injury and the whole team was very supportive and stayed on top of my case, I was able to maintain my bills due to being out of work for a year and had a favorable outcome with my settlement which helped me start my business ventures, so thanks again to the team and if need be I’ll have them represent me in the future.More
Jason, Charlotte, and Tony were absolutely amazing! I was in a car accident 4 years ago, they made sure I was taken care of and even though we had a lot of set backs due to Covid, they never made me feel like my case (or me) were not important. Tony knew my medical history better than I did, Charlotte was always an absolute delight to talk to and was so kind, and Jason was just great! I'm really sad that I won't be talking to them anymore, they became like family! I know that is something a lot of people say, but it is 100% true with this team.More
Great team took my cases when most wouldn’t did all the work fluently and worry free would not be any happier 😊. Highly recommend them for your legal servicesMore
I cannot thank the team at Pinder Plotkin enough for their compassion, patience, and relentless dedication throughout my car accident case. They went above and beyond — jumping through hoops, explaining every step with care, and standing by me when I felt overwhelmed or lost. The communication was incredible, and I always knew I was in good hands. I truly appreciate everything they did to help me get through such a stressful time. Highly recommend to anyone looking for people who genuinely care about their clients.More
Mr Jason, Mr Balsamo, Nancy and the team worked on my case meticulously until I got justice. Thanks Nancy for your assurance and patience. If you need a team of injury lawyers, Pinder Plotkin team should be your first call.More
To be honest, I wasn’t sure how this process would go since I usually let the auto insurance company handle accident. However, I would not hesitate to call upon the Pinder Plotkin legal team FIRST. They took on my case and exceeded expectations and removed any doubts I had. The folks at Pinder Plotkin fought through a long drawn out case, keeping my best interests in mind. A settlement was reached, more than what I would say, your insurance company would give. I’m extremely happy with the Pinder Plotkin team for their hard work, dedication to me as a client and as a veteran. I was treated with compassion, empathy and they communicated every step of the process. I high recommend the Pinder Plotkin legal team for your legal services. Thank you Pinder Plotkin, truely, thank you.More
Recognizing the signs of abuse and neglect is the first step in taking action. Physical abuse may show signs such as bruises, broken bones, or unexplained injuries. Emotional abuse can be harder to detect but may manifest as withdrawal, depression, or anxiety. Signs of neglect include weight loss, unsanitary living conditions, or untreated physical problems.
If a Maryland facility failed your loved one through abuse, a fall, bedsores, malnutrition, or neglect, the Pinder Plotkin Legal Team will review what happened for free and fight for the accountability and compensation your family deserves, on a contingency fee: you pay nothing unless we win.
If you believe abuse is happening right now, involve law enforcement — call 911 and ask for the police department that covers the facility — and get your loved one medical attention before anything else. Photographs, facility incident reports, and staffing records from the same week are the evidence that tends to disappear first.
One of the most visible consequences of nursing home abuse are physical injuries. These can range from bruises and abrasions to more severe injuries like fractures, particularly hip fractures. Falls, often resulting from inadequate supervision or poor living conditions, are a common cause of these injuries.
Neglect in nursing homes can often lead to malnutrition and dehydration, as residents may not receive adequate nutrition and fluids. This can result in significant weight loss, weakness, and an increased susceptibility to infections and illnesses.
Residents can also suffer from psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This emotional distress can significantly diminish their quality of life and may manifest as changes in behavior, withdrawal from social interactions, or a general decline in mental health.
Neglect can also lead to a higher incidence of infections and illnesses. Poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions can contribute to the spread of infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs) and pneumonia, which can be particularly dangerous for the elderly.
Abuse in care facilities is far more common than most families realize. In a World Health Organization–cited review of institutional settings, about 2 in 3 staff members (64.2%) admitted to committing some form of abuse in the past year — most often psychological abuse (32.5%), followed by neglect (12%) and physical abuse (9.3%). Across all settings, the WHO estimates 1 in 6 adults over 60 (15.7%) experiences abuse each year.
Sources: World Health Organization, Abuse of Older People; Yon et al. systematic review of institutional elder abuse.
A bedsore (pressure ulcer) is often the clearest sign a resident was left too long without being moved, cleaned, or checked. They are common and frequently under-treated: a CDC study found about 11% of nursing home residents had pressure ulcers, rising to 16% among residents in a home a year or less, and only 35% of residents with a stage 2 or worse ulcer received proper wound care. A 2022 University of Chicago study found nursing homes substantially underreport bedsores in federal data — so the real number is likely higher. Left untreated, a bedsore can progress to deep-tissue wounds, serious infection, and sepsis, which can be fatal for an older adult.
Sources: CDC/NCHS Data Brief No. 14 (2004 National Nursing Home Survey); University of Chicago, Medical Care (2022).
For an ordinary negligence claim, Maryland generally gives you three years (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101). But if the harm counts as medical malpractice — for example, a medication or treatment error — it falls under § 5-109 (the earlier of five years from the injury or three from discovery) and requires a Certificate of a Qualified Expert within 90 days (§ 3-2A-04). Which category your case falls in isn't always obvious, which is exactly why an early free review matters.
You can report abuse or neglect to the Maryland Department of Health's Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ), the agency that licenses and inspects nursing homes and investigates complaints — online, by phone, or by mail. You can pursue a regulatory complaint and a civil claim at the same time. Every resident is also protected by the federal Nursing Home Reform Act, which guarantees the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and unnecessary restraint.
Elder abuse in a nursing home setting can take several forms, often overlapping:
Baltimore City and Baltimore County are bordered by Anne Arundel, Howard, and Harford Counties, and each has dozens of nursing and rehabilitation facilities. Before or after placing a loved one, check two free, official sources rather than a facility's own brochure: Medicare's Care Compare (medicare.gov/care-compare), which gives every facility an overall star rating plus separate scores for health inspections, staffing, and quality measures; and the Maryland Department of Health's Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ), which publishes inspection and complaint-survey history.
Ratings update roughly monthly, so check the current record — and if what's on paper doesn't match what you see in person, reach out to us.
Families in Maryland bring nursing home abuse and neglect cases in the Circuit Court for the county where the facility is located. Every Maryland jurisdiction and its Circuit Court is listed below. If your loved one needed emergency care, hospital records often become key evidence of what the facility missed.
Circuit Court for Allegany County: Cumberland — 30 Washington Street
Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County: Annapolis — 8 Church Circle
Circuit Court for Baltimore City: Baltimore — 111 N. Calvert Street
Circuit Court for Baltimore County: Towson — 401 Bosley Avenue
Circuit Court for Calvert County: Prince Frederick — 175 Main Street
Circuit Court for Caroline County: Denton — 109 Market Street
Circuit Court for Carroll County: Westminster — 55 N. Court Street
Circuit Court for Cecil County: Elkton — 129 East Main Street
Circuit Court for Charles County: La Plata — 200 Charles Street
Circuit Court for Dorchester County: Cambridge — 206 High Street
Circuit Court for Frederick County: Frederick — 100 West Patrick Street
Circuit Court for Garrett County: Oakland — 203 S. 4th Street
Circuit Court for Harford County: Bel Air — 20 West Courtland Street
Circuit Court for Howard County: Ellicott City — 8360 Court Avenue
Circuit Court for Kent County: Chestertown — 103 N. Cross Street
Circuit Court for Montgomery County: Rockville — 20 Maryland Avenue
Circuit Court for Allegany County: Upper Marlboro — 14735 Main Street
Circuit Court for Allegany County: Centreville — 200 N. Commerce Street
Circuit Court for Somerset County: Princess Anne — 30512 Prince William Street
Circuit Court for Allegany County: Leonardtown — 41605 Courthouse Drive
Circuit Court for Talbot County: Easton — 11 N. Washington Street
Circuit Court for Washington County: Hagerstown — 24 Summit Avenue
Circuit Court for Wicomico County: Salisbury — 101 N. Division Street
Circuit Court for Worcester County: Snow Hill — 1 West Market Street
Three Maryland offices — Baltimore (Nottingham), Laurel and Bel Air — and we travel statewide to meet clients who cannot travel to us. Call (888) 844-5373 to schedule a visit.
We handle nursing home abuse and neglect cases throughout Maryland.
We take cases anywhere in Maryland — all 23 counties and Baltimore City. Each name links to that jurisdiction's official local government website.
Source: MDOT Zero Deaths Maryland jurisdiction crash data summaries, 2023. Statewide totals: 577 fatal crashes and 621 traffic deaths.
Sudden changes are the red flags — new bruises, rapid weight loss, bedsores, withdrawal, or fear around staff. A review of the care records tells the real story, and we’ll do that for free.
Usually three years for negligence, but malpractice-type claims have different deadlines and a 90-day expert-certificate rule. Don’t wait to ask.
Nothing. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless there is a recovery. Call (888) 844-5373.
Yes. You can file a complaint with the Office of Health Care Quality and pursue a civil claim at the same time.
You may still have a claim, including a wrongful death or survival action. We can review it for free.
Write down what you’ve seen, take photos of any injuries or conditions, request the care records, and talk to a lawyer before the deadline runs.
That is the right question, and it is usually answered by records rather than impressions. Care plans, staffing rosters, incident reports and the resident’s own chart show whether a facility identified a risk and then failed to act on it. A fall in a resident already assessed as a falls risk reads very differently from a genuine accident.
Yes. Maryland allows both a survival action, for what your parent went through before death, and a wrongful death claim for close family. The deadlines differ from an ordinary injury claim, so this is one where getting advice early genuinely matters.
Maryland is one of a small number of states that still follows contributory negligence. In most states, being found partly at fault reduces what you recover. In Maryland it can bar your claim entirely, even if the other side was far more to blame. Maryland’s highest court reaffirmed the rule in Coleman v. Soccer Association of Columbia, 432 Md. 679 (2013), over a strong dissent, and said any change to it is for the General Assembly rather than the courts. That is why an insurance adjuster’s first move is so often to suggest you did something wrong. Being blamed is not the same as being at fault, whether the rule actually bars a claim depends on the specific facts, and it is the reason to be careful about what you say and to get advice early.
Jason Plotkin was born and raised here, and he has lived in six Maryland jurisdictions — Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Howard County, Allegany County and Worcester County. Mountains to shore. That is not a marketing line; it is where he has actually lived.
Marc Hassan, Tony Balasamo and Joshua Fannon were born and raised in Maryland too, and Christian Miele served in the Maryland House of Delegates. When you work with our firm, you are working with people who know this state — its roads, its courts and its neighbors.
Let's talk — your case review is free, and there's no fee unless there's a recovery. Call (888) 844-5373 and we'll help you figure out the next step.
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