Clarification: Here’s a clarification to a story that first ran February 29th. We reported that a Wilkinson County Judge awarded a $64 million dollar judgment to the family of a man who alleged he was beaten at the Total Care Personal Care Home in Gordon. We want to clarify that the judgment was entered against Columbus Medical Services, LLC, a company that provided services at the home, and ten individuals who also provided services to mentally-disabled residents of the home. The Total Care Personal Care Home and its owners were not parties to the lawsuit and were not named in the judgment.
A Wilkinson County judge has award $64.6 million to a man who claimed he was beaten by several workers at a personal-care home.
In January, Judge William Prior issued the final judgment against Columbus Medical Services, LLC and 10 individual defendants who provided services to mentally-disabled residents at the Total Care Personal Care Home in Gordon.
A complaint was filed in November by Betty Gill, the mother of Joseph Cason Jr. Her complaint says Cason is mentally disabled.
The complaint says Cason "was repeatedly and sadistically beaten and otherwise abused by employees" in November 2013.
Two years ago, the GBI said a surveillance camera at the Total Care home captured that abuse on video.
The civil complaint says:
Defendant Shakie Smith "repeatedly attacked Joey with a belt, attacking him at least 18 times." According to court records, she pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and exploiting an elderly or disabled person.
Another defendant, Rodrekais Mosley, "knocked Joey over a desk.”
Defendant Amber Coverson "hit Joey with a belt and slapped him in the face," the complaint states. She pleaded guilty in a criminal case to exploiting an elderly or disabled person.
Defendant Owens Pearson, "repeatedly punched Joey in his face with his fist during the day," including both morning and afternoon, according to the lawsuit. He pleaded guilty to simple battery, according to court records.
Another employee, Audey Ray, pleaded guilty to simple battery, court records show.
And Porsha Richardson pleaded guilty to one count of exploiting an elderly or disabled person and one count of simple battery, according to court records.
According to the lawsuit, "Joey was a vulnerable victim, completely defenseless against the attacks.”
Total Care closed after the reported beating, although owner Pamela Reaves would not say why. We could not reach her for comment Monday.
Gill's lawsuit notes that Reaves is the sister of Gordon Mayor Mary Ann Whipple Lue.
Gill’s complaint says Total Care employees took Cason to a polling place on Nov. 5 to cast a vote for Whipple Lue, even though he was "mentally incapable" of making a decision on who to vote for. The lawsuit argues that was a violation of his privacy and his rights.
The lawsuit alleges Cason was beaten by the defendants three days later, although Gill's complaints does not connect it to his voting.