Farmington Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Dusti Harvey: From Inside the Industry to Advocating for Families

Founding Partner Dusti Harvey brings a rare perspective to our team having spent years in the industry before dedicating her practice to fighting for victims. Before starting our firm, she:

• Led the litigation department for one of the largest nursing home chains in the U.S.
• Managed over 1,500 elder care lawsuits, giving her rare insight into corporate defense tactics.
• Directed the company’s national dispute resolution program, resolving high-stakes cases across the country.
• Worked directly with risk management teams and insurers to defend against elder abuse claims.

Her perspective changed when her own grandmother entered a long-term care facility — and Dusti saw firsthand how difficult it was for families to get clear answers or understand their rights. That personal experience reshaped her career. Since 2005, she has fought exclusively for victims of elder abuse and neglect.

Her background gives our clients a powerful advantage: someone who knows how nursing home corporations operate — and how to hold them accountable.

Our Experience Handling Serious Nursing Home Abuse Cases

We don’t just say we handle these cases — we’ve built a track record that proves it. Here are examples of the types of cases we pursue and the results we’ve achieved:

• Physical and Sexual Abuse – Whether caused by staff or fellow residents, these are often the result of poor hiring practices or ignored red flags. In one case, we secured $2.5 million for the family of a woman raped by a known repeat offender.
• Bedsores and Neglect – Bedsores aren’t just painful — they’re preventable. We’ve recovered over $1.1 million in combined settlements for families whose loved ones developed serious ulcers due to poor hygiene and failure to reposition.
• Choking and Feeding Errors – Residents on restricted diets require close attention. We’ve litigated against facilities that violated feeding protocols, including one case involving a $750,000 settlement for a resident who choked to death on food that should never have been served.
• Falls and Fractures – Unsafe environments, lack of supervision, and improper transfers often lead to devastating falls. We once secured a $4.26 million verdict after a resident fatally fell in the shower due to inadequate supervision.
• Elopement and Wandering – We represent victims who were left unsupervised and wandered from the facility, often with tragic consequences. Our team recovered $300,000 in one such case involving a resident with cognitive impairment.
• Wrongful Death – Many of our cases involve a loved one’s untimely death — often due to a combination of neglectful policies and profit-driven decisions. We help families seek accountability when facilities fail in the most profound ways.

We approach each case with meticulous preparation and unwavering commitment — and we don’t back down when powerful corporations stand in the way of justice.

The Profit Problem in Long-Term Care

In Farmington and across the state, many long-term care and assisted living facilities are no longer run by healthcare professionals — they’re run by investment companies, hedge funds, and out-of-state corporations. These operators see residents not as people, but as profit centers.

And to maximize those profits, they often:

• Cut staff to unsafe levels
• Hire unqualified or undertrained workers
• Ignore care standards and medical orders
• Overlook warning signs of injury, illness, or abuse
• Conceal incidents from families

We’ve seen this across the industry — and it’s especially dangerous for residents with dementia, limited mobility, or complex medical needs. When facilities operate this way, residents suffer. And in some cases, they die.

At Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm, we fight back by exposing the patterns of neglect and holding these corporations accountable — whether they’re based in New Mexico or hundreds of miles away.

Why Choose Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm?

• Insider Knowledge of the Nursing Home Industry – Attorney Dusti Harvey led the litigation department for a national nursing home chain, managing more than 1,500 cases from the corporate side. She now uses that knowledge to fight for families.
• Focused Practice – Since 2005, our firm has concentrated solely on nursing home abuse and neglect litigation. This is not just one of our practice areas — it’s what we do.
• Track Record of Results – Our six- and seven-figure case results reflect a commitment to meaningful justice and financial accountability.
• Trial Experience – We’re known for our courtroom skill and willingness to go to trial when a fair settlement isn’t offered.
• Compassionate Client Service – We guide families through these difficult cases with empathy, clarity, and consistent communication.

Understanding the Legal Process: What to Expect in a Nursing Home Abuse Case

We know how intimidating it can be to take legal action — especially while navigating the emotional aftermath of nursing home abuse or neglect. That’s why we make the process as clear and supportive as possible from day one.

Here’s what our approach typically involves:

• Listening First. We begin with a no-obligation consultation. You share your concerns, and we listen carefully — then offer an honest assessment about whether we believe there’s a case.
• Building the Foundation. If we move forward, we launch a thorough investigation. This can include obtaining medical records, staffing schedules, facility logs, witness interviews, and input from medical or industry experts.
• Filing the Lawsuit. If the evidence supports it and a fair resolution isn’t offered early, we prepare and file a formal complaint against the responsible parties in court.
• Preparing for All Outcomes. While many cases settle before trial, we approach every case with the assumption it may go to court. That means thorough preparation, clear documentation, and legal strategies built to withstand scrutiny.

Throughout it all, we handle the legal pressure so you can focus on your family. Our goal is to provide peace of mind while aggressively pursuing justice on your behalf.

Deadlines for Filing a Nursing Home Lawsuit in New Mexico

In most cases, you have three years from the date of injury or death to file a nursing home abuse or wrongful death lawsuit. But shorter deadlines may apply if the facility is government-operated or certain facts were concealed.

Acting quickly is key. Waiting too long can result in lost records, uncooperative witnesses, or a missed opportunity for justice. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better we can protect your claim.

Compensation in Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Cases

You may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of companionship or quality of life
• Funeral costs (in fatal cases)
• Punitive damages in extreme misconduct cases

We pursue every avenue of recovery for our clients and don’t back down from complex or high-stakes claims.

Call for a Free Consultation: (505) 295-2245

If someone you love has been abused or neglected in a Farmington-area nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home, contact Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm.

We offer free, confidential case evaluations and accept cases on a contingency fee basis — which means we only collect a fee if we win. Call (505) 295-2245 or contact us online now.