Cuomo faces legal defeat over nursing home COVID-19 deaths
- A class-action lawsuit against Andrew Cuomo over nursing home COVID-19 deaths was dismissed by a federal judge.
- The judge concluded that the plaintiffs did not meet the legal standards to proceed with their case.
- Cuomo's directive on nursing homes has faced significant scrutiny, yet he maintains a potential political comeback.
In a recent legal ruling, a federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit that accused former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his administration of causing the deaths of nursing home residents during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The lawsuit, brought by eight plaintiffs, claimed that their loved ones contracted the virus due to a controversial directive issued by Cuomo in March 2020 that mandated nursing homes to accept recovering COVID-19 patients from hospitals. Although the court recognized the tragic nature of the events, it concluded that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate sufficient legal grounds for a case in federal court. U.S. District Court Judge Katherine Polk Failla stated that the plaintiffs' legal arguments did not meet the necessary standard to sue, even if the actions taken by Cuomo's administration were deemed negligent. Throughout her opinion, Failla emphasized that while the court sympathized with the bereaved families, sympathy could not override established legal precedents. This marks the second case against Cuomo regarding nursing home deaths that has been dismissed based on similar grounds. Cuomo’s directive, which allowed the admission of COVID-19 patients to nursing homes, was part of a broader public health response as medical officials grappled with the rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic. Critics have argued that this policy caused a significant number of deaths in vulnerable populations, and investigations emerged regarding the state's reporting practices surrounding nursing home fatalities. Reports suggested that Cuomo's administration may have underreported nursing home deaths, igniting further scrutiny and controversy. Despite his previous resignation following scandals, including accusations of underreporting nursing home deaths and sexual harassment allegations, Cuomo has hinted at rebooting his political career by running for New York City mayor. As legal challenges and investigations continue, Cuomo’s recent legal victories in court provide some reassurance amid a challenging political landscape, as noted by representatives from his office who claimed that truth prevails when cases are taken to court.