Third suit filed in fatal veterans home COVID-19 outbreak

Kona attorney Jeffrey Foster has filed a third wrongful death lawsuit in connection with the devastating COVID-19 outbreak at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo, which claimed the lives of 27 residents. The suit, filed on behalf of Tracy Bennedsen, Margaret Robinson, and Roberta Plancich, sisters of 73-year-old Stephan Plancich, alleges that Plancich died on September 17 due to a COVID-19 infection contracted at the facility.

Stephan Plancich was a decorated U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, with commendations including the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon for his heroic rescue efforts during a ship fire, and the Bronze Star. The lawsuit names Avalon Health Care Group and several subsidiaries, as well as Tina Irwin, Avalon’s regional vice president for Hawaii, and governmental “Doe” entities, as defendants.

The complaint accuses Avalon of breaching its duty of care by failing to implement adequate infection control measures at the veterans home. This lawsuit adds to the legal actions taken in response to the outbreak, including complaints filed for the deaths of Chris Drayer and Lawrence Akana, both 70-year-old U.S. Army Vietnam War veterans who also succumbed to COVID-19 due to the outbreak at the Hilo veterans home.

Foster Law Offices is at the forefront of seeking justice for these families who lost loved ones in this tragic event, highlighting the need for accountability and improved safety measures in long-term care facilities.