Dozens more families are alleging gross negligence in the COVID-19-related deaths of their loved ones at New Jersey’s veterans homes. Attorney Paul da Costa tells NJ Spotlight News an additional 69 people are filing tort claim notices with the state. Da Costa is representing 53 of those people and worked for many of the 119 families involved in an initial settlement, claiming reckless conduct and incompetence of veterans affairs officials were to blame for the deaths.
If confirmed, it would bring the death toll at the state-run homes to 240, not the 157 officially reported by the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The state reached a nearly $53 million settlement with the first round of claimants in December. The veterans homes had among the highest COVID-19-related fatalities in the nation and remain under federal investigation. A spokesperson for Gov. Phil Murphy’s office declined to comment on the pending litigation.
