The husband of a Connecticut visiting nurse who was killed during an encounter with a convicted rapist filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday, alleging her employer repeatedly ignored workers’ safety concerns while treating dangerous patients.
Ronald Grayson sued Elara Caring, its subsidiaries and others for the murder of his wife. Joyce GraysonThe 63-year-old mother of six was found dead in the basement of a Willimantic nursing home on Oct. 28. She was strangled and suffered multiple blunt force injuries, authorities said. Elara Caring, based in Dallas, Texas, denies the allegations.
“For many years leading up to October 28, 2023, employees of Elara Caring branches experienced numerous and repeated incidents in which they were subjected to verbal, physical and sexual harassment, assault, assault, shouting, stalking, threats, punching, kicking, grabbing and scratching. against Elara Caring’s mentally unstable and/or violent patients,” the lawsuit states, seeking undisclosed damages.
Instead of addressing nurses’ concerns, the lawsuit alleges, the company encouraged employees to focus on improving profitability while nurses were “punished, shamed and gassed into believing they were overreacting.” The lawsuit says staff “were required to treat patients who were dangerous, mentally unstable and often unsuitable for home health care.”
The lawsuit, filed in Middletown Superior Court, also accuses the company of failing to implement a policy allowing chaperones or other staff to accompany nurses when they visit potentially dangerous clients.
“Joyce Grayson’s death was completely preventable, and those who failed to protect her from a violent criminal must be held accountable,” said Kelly Reardon, attorney for the Grayson family.
Elara Caring called the allegations “baseless” in a statement released Monday. The company says it provides home care to more than 60,000 patients in 17 states.
That morning, Joyce Grayson had an appointment to give Michael Reese his medication. Reese, who was on probation after serving a 14-year prison sentence for the 2006 stabbing and sexual assault of a woman in New Haven, accused of murder and other crimes in the death of a nurse. His lawyers did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Elara repeated previous comments that said Connecticut officials have determined Reese does not pose a risk to the public and are responsible for monitoring and managing his activities.
“Elara Caring provided services only after the Connecticut Department of Corrections, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and the judiciary determined that it was safe for Reese to be released back into the community,” the statement said. “Joyce Grayson was a trusted friend, colleague and mentor. We remain devastated and outraged by her loss.”
The killing has spurred calls for greater protections for home health care workers in Connecticut and across the country. Connecticut lawmakers are now considering legislation that would improve the safety of healthcare workers.
Grayson’s family is also asking permission to sue the state judiciary, which oversees probation, and the Department of Corrections for $25 million over Reece’s supervision. The Judiciary declined to comment and the Department of Corrections did not respond to messages. People who want to sue the state need approval from the claims commissioner’s office and the legislature.
The lawsuit also names The Connection, which runs a community treatment program at the shelter where Grayson was killed. The provider declined to comment on the allegations in the lawsuit.
“Joyce Grayson’s death was a senseless crime, and The Connection continues to mourn her immeasurable loss,” the statement said. “We will allow the legal process to address the root causes of this tragedy.”
Last week, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed to fine Elara Caring approximately $161,000. after it was discovered that the company failed to protect Grayson.