California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against Sweetwater Care, a San Diego-based operator of 19 skilled nursing facilities across the state, for gross violations of elder care standards. The lawsuit, filed under California’s Unfair Competition Law, alleges that Sweetwater endangered vulnerable residents by repeatedly failing to meet the state’s minimum staffing requirements—leading to widespread neglect, abuse, and even physical injuries.
The lawsuit follows a sweeping investigation by the California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA), which uncovered a disturbing pattern of misconduct at Sweetwater facilities between 2020 and 2024. According to the findings, Sweetwater violated minimum staffing laws more than 14,000 times, placing elderly and disabled residents in harm’s way.
The consequences of this understaffing were severe:
- Patients with broken bones went days without medical assessment or treatment
- Residents suffering head trauma left facilities unnoticed by staff
- Pressure ulcers so deep that hip bones were exposed
- Medical emergencies ignored or inadequately addressed
- Residents left in soiled diapers overnight due to lack of available staff
Despite these failures, Sweetwater reportedly extracted over $31 million in “profits” or “management fees”, rather than using that money to hire sufficient nursing staff or improve care. Attorney General Bonta condemned the chain’s actions, stating, “This is simply unacceptable… No one is above the law, and our vulnerable patients deserve nothing less than dignity, safety, and high-quality care.”
- In its complaint, the California DOJ is seeking:
- Civil monetary penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, with potentially doubled fines when seniors or disabled persons are the victims
- Injunctive relief to stop ongoing violations
- Appointment of a receiver or compliance monitor to oversee facility operations
- Full recovery of litigation costs
The DMFEA, which is tasked with protecting elderly and dependent adults from abuse, receives the bulk of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its work aims to hold nursing home operators accountable and protect Medi-Cal from fraud.
This lawsuit is part of a growing effort by state authorities to ensure that long-term care facilities prioritize patient safety over profits. Families placing loved ones in these facilities trust that they’ll receive safe, attentive, and humane care. When that trust is broken, as alleged in this case, legal accountability is essential.
More information about the lawsuit and the full complaint will be made public once court filings are available.