Holding Sunrise Assisted Living Facilities Accountable for Elder Abuse and Neglect

Assisted living facilities operated by Sunrise Senior Living are entrusted with the care and safety of seniors who often require help with daily activities, medication management, supervision, and protection from harm. When that trust is broken through neglect, understaffing, or abuse, the consequences can be severe—leading to injury, rapid decline, or wrongful death.

Our law firm represents elders and their families in claims against Sunrise-assisted living facilities throughout California. We focus on serious elder abuse and neglect cases and hold large corporate operators accountable when residents are harmed.

We have represented clients in cases involving:

• Falls and preventable injuries
• Medication errors and mismanagement
• Failure to supervise residents with dementia
• Wandering and elopement
• Dehydration and malnutrition
• Bedsores and untreated medical conditions
• Physical and sexual abuse
• Wrongful death

Our mission is clear: protect vulnerable residents, expose systemic failures, and demand accountability.

Sunrise Senior Living: Size Does Not Excuse Neglect

Sunrise Senior Living is one of the largest assisted living and senior housing operators in the United States. Despite its size and resources, Sunrise facilities have been the subject of numerous complaints, lawsuits, and regulatory actions nationwide, including allegations of understaffing, inadequate supervision, and failures to meet basic resident-care standards.

Assisted living facilities often operate with less regulatory oversight than skilled nursing facilities, making residents particularly vulnerable when corporate cost-cutting leads to insufficient staffing or training. In many Sunrise cases, injuries and deaths stem from:

• Inadequate staffing levels
• Failure to properly assess resident care needs
• Poor supervision of residents with cognitive impairment
• Inadequate response to medical emergencies

Large corporate ownership does not shield an assisted living provider from responsibility. California law allows families to pursue claims when corporate policies and management decisions place residents at risk.

Types of Sunrise Assisted Living Cases We Handle

Falls and Preventable Injuries

Falls and Preventable Injuries Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in assisted living facilities. We pursue Sunrise cases involving:

• Failure to supervise high-risk residents
• Ignoring known fall risks
• Unsafe physical environments
• Delayed medical response after a fall

These cases often result in fractures, head injuries, loss of independence, or death.

Medication Errors

Medication Errors Assisted living residents frequently rely on staff for medication administration or monitoring. Errors can include:

• Missed doses
• Overmedication or under-medication
• Giving the wrong medication
• Failure to monitor adverse reactions

Medication errors can cause hospitalization, cognitive decline, or fatal outcomes.

Wandering, Elopement, and Lack of Supervision

Wandering, Elopement, and Lack of Supervision Residents with dementia or cognitive impairment are at high risk for wandering. Sunrise facilities may be liable when they fail to:

• Implement adequate supervision plans
• Secure exits and alarms
• Respond promptly to missing residents

Elopement incidents often result in serious injury or death.

Abuse and Assault

Abuse and Assault Abuse in assisted living facilities may involve staff members or other residents. We handle Sunrise cases involving:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual assault
• Resident-on-resident assaults
• Failure to investigate or report abuse

Facilities have a duty to protect residents from foreseeable harm and to take immediate action when abuse is suspected.

Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death When neglect or abuse leads to death, families deserve answers. We handle Sunrise wrongful death cases involving:

• Falls with fatal complications
• Untreated medical conditions
• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Delayed emergency response

We work with medical and geriatric experts to determine how a death occurred and who is responsible.

Our Experience Litigating Against Assisted Living Chains

Our firm has extensive experience litigating elder abuse and neglect cases against large senior living operators. Our approach includes:

• Focused elder abuse litigation practice
• Understanding of assisted living regulatory gaps
• Aggressive discovery targeting staffing and policies
• Willingness to take cases to trial

We do not accept corporate excuses. We pursue accountability.

Notable Case Results

Slide 1

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$33,000,000

Settlement in Assisted Living Wrongful Death Case

SGG Law represented the family of an elderly resident who died after suffering injuries caused by elder abuse at an assisted living facility in San Mateo County.

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$30,000,000

Settlement in Assisted Living Elder Abuse Death Case

SGG Law obtained a $30,000,000 settlement in a wrongful death case involving an assisted living facility in Contra Costa County.

The case arose after elder abuse and neglect at the facility caused injuries that ultimately led to a resident’s death.

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$16,500,000

Settlement in Memory Care Fall Wrongful Death Case

SGG Law secured a $16,500,000 settlement in a wrongful death case involving an understaffed memory care unit at an assisted living facility. The resident suffered multiple unwitnessed falls that ultimately led to a fatal hip fracture.

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$4,650,000

Settlement in Fatal Bedsore Neglect Case

SGG Law represented the children of a dependent adult who developed severe pressure ulcers while living at a skilled nursing facility. The resident developed a Stage IV bedsore that became infected and contributed to the resident’s death.

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$3,750,000

Settlement in Memory Care Resident Neglect Case

SGG Law represented the families of residents at a Sonoma County memory care facility who suffered harm after not receiving necessary care during a critical period. The case involved vulnerable residents with dementia who required close supervision and specialized care that the facility failed to provide. The firm secured a $3,750,000 settlement on behalf of the affected families.

Stebner Gertler & Guadagni has recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims of elder abuse and neglect throughout California. See more of our notable case results.

Sunrise Assisted Living Facilities in California

Sunrise Senior Living operates numerous assisted living communities throughout California. Our firm investigates abuse and neglect claims involving Sunrise facilities statewide, including but not limited to:

• Sunrise of Cupertino, Sunnyvale, CA
• Sunrise of Sunnyvale, Sunnyvale, CA
• Sunrise of Danville, Danville, CA
• Sunrise of Fair Oaks, Fair Oaks, CA
• Sunrise of Carmichael, Carmichael, CA
• Sunrise of San Mateo, San Mateo, CA
• The Stratford, San Mateo, CA
• Sunrise of Rocklin, Rocklin, CA
• Sunrise at Sterling Canyon, Valencia, CA
• Varenita of Simi Valley, Simi Valley, CA
• Varenita of Westlake, Westlake Village, CA
• Sunrise of Westlake Village, Westlake Village, CA
• Sunrise of Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, CA
• Sunrise of Hermosa Beach, Hermosa Beach, CA
• Sunrise of Yorba Linda, Yorba Linda, CA
• Sunrise of Orange, Orange, CA
• Sunrise at Canyon Crest, Riverside, CA
• Sunrise of Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, CA
• Sunrise of Oceanside, Oceanside, CA
• Sunrise at La Costa, Carlsbad, CA

Facility names and ownership structures change frequently. If your loved one was harmed at a Sunrise-affiliated assisted living facility—even if not listed—please contact us.

Client Testimonials and Reviews

Families across California trust Stebner, Gertler & Guadagni to hold negligent facilities accountable.

Free Consultation – Sunrise Assisted Living Abuse Cases

If you believe your loved one was abused, neglected, or wrongfully killed in a Sunrise assisted living facility in California, we can help.

• Free, confidential consultation
• No fee unless we obtain a recovery
• Strict time limits apply under California law

Contact our firm today to speak with an experienced California assisted living abuse attorney. Justice begins with accountability.