Yaquina Law | Serving Lincoln County and Greater Oregon
If you suspect that an elderly loved one has been harmed by a caregiver, a facility, a family member, or a financial predator, our elder abuse lawyers are here to help. Victims of elder abuse do not have to face their next steps without support. The elder abuse attorney at Yaquina Law help families across the Oregon Coast hold wrongdoers accountable and recover the compensation their loved ones deserve.
Yaquina Law represents victims of elder abuse and their families in claims involving neglect, financial exploitation, and mistreatment in homes, assisted living communities, and long-term care facilities. We pursue every remedy Oregon law provides, including the enhanced damages available in elder abuse cases. Whether the harm occurred in a private residence or a licensed nursing home, the Yaquina Law team will build a case tailored to your loved one’s needs, while sending a clear message that this conduct will not be tolerated.
Yaquina Law is a boutique firm led by experienced attorney Adam Springer. Because we are deliberately small, every client works directly with a dedicated elder abuse attorney rather than being handed off to a rotating cast of paralegals. That focus lets us give these sensitive cases the attention, compassion, and preparation they demand. If you believe an older family member has been mistreated, we invite you to schedule a free consultation so we can review your situation and explain your options.
Why Choose Yaquina Law
Thorough Investigation
Elder abuse is often hidden behind closed doors and buried in incomplete records. We move quickly to preserve evidence, obtain medical and financial documentation, interview witnesses and staff, and, when appropriate, retain medical experts, forensic accountants, and care-standard specialists. The strength of an elder abuse claim usually comes down to the quality of its investigation, and we treat that work as the foundation of every case.
Compassionate Support
Families come to us during some of the most painful moments of their lives. We handle every conversation with patience and respect, keeping the wellbeing of the elderly person at the center of our work. We understand that pursuing a claim goes beyond compensation. It is about restoring safety and dignity to someone you love.
Clear Communication
Elder abuse law is complex, and Oregon’s statutes offer remedies that many people do not know exist. We explain the process in plain language, keep you informed at every stage, and make sure you understand your rights before any major decision. You will always know where your case stands and what comes next.
What Is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse is any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It affects senior citizens and elderly individuals in every kind of setting: private homes, adult foster homes, memory care units, and skilled nursing facilities.
Some victims suffer visible injuries; others are quietly drained of their savings or left to decline through inattention. Because many older adults depend on others for daily care and cannot easily speak up, abuse frequently goes unreported for months or even years. Recognizing the different forms this mistreatment can take is the first step toward stopping it. The most common types of elder abuse include the following.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse involves the use of force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment. It can include hitting, slapping, pushing, improper restraint, force-feeding, or the wrongful use of medication to sedate or control an older adult. Unexplained bruises, fractures, burns, or repeated “accidents” are warning signs that should never be ignored.
Neglect and Abandonment
Neglect is a frequently overlooked form of elder abuse in which a caregiver fails to provide the food, water, hygiene, medical care, or supervision an older adult needs. Abusive or neglectful conduct can lead to bedsores, malnutrition, dehydration, untreated infections, and dangerous falls. In long-term care settings, chronic understaffing and inadequate training are common causes of neglect, and facilities can be held legally responsible for the harm that results.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse occurs when someone improperly uses an older adult’s money, property, or assets. Predators, sometimes strangers, sometimes trusted relatives or caregivers, may forge checks, misuse a power of attorney, coerce changes to a will, or run scams designed to financially exploit vulnerable elders. Oregon law treats financial exploitation as seriously as physical harm, and victims can recover substantial damages when someone steals from or defrauds them.
Psychological and Emotional Abuse
Psychological abuse includes verbal assaults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, and isolation that cause emotional pain or distress. Though it leaves no bruises, this form of abuse can be devastating, causing anxiety, depression, withdrawal, and rapid decline in older adults. Sudden fearfulness around a particular caregiver, or being cut off from friends and family, can signal emotional mistreatment.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is any form of non-consensual sexual contact with an older adult, including contact with a person who lacks the capacity to consent. It is among the most underreported forms of elder mistreatment and demands an immediate and forceful response.
Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse refers to any of the above harms occurring in a licensed care facility. Residents of these facilities are protected by both state and federal law, and operators have a legal duty to keep them safe. When a facility ignores that duty, through negligent hiring, insufficient staffing, or a failure to address known dangers, it can be held accountable for the injuries its residents suffer.
Understanding Oregon Elder Abuse Laws
Oregon provides some of the strongest legal protections in the country for older and vulnerable adults, and these statutes are central to how we pursue elder abuse cases.
ORS 124.100 to 124.140: Civil Action for Abuse of a Vulnerable Person
These statutes allow a vulnerable person who suffers injury, damage, or death because of physical abuse or financial abuse to bring a civil claim against anyone who caused the abuse or who knowingly permitted it to occur. An “elderly person” is defined as anyone 65 years of age or older, and the category of “vulnerable person” also covers incapacitated adults and adults with qualifying disabilities. A successful lawsuit entitles the plaintiff to three times all economic damages, three times all noneconomic damages, and reasonable attorney fees.
ORS 124.130: Statute of Limitations
A civil action under these provisions generally must be commenced within seven years after the discovery of the conduct giving rise to the claim. This discovery rule is important because so much elder abuse — particularly financial abuse — comes to light long after it began. Even so, families should not wait: evidence disappears and memories fade, so it is always best to speak with an attorney as soon as you suspect wrongdoing.
ORS 124.050 to 124.095: Mandatory Reporting
Oregon requires many public and private officials to report suspected abuse. Any covered official who has reasonable cause to believe that a person 65 or older has suffered abuse must immediately report the abuse to the local office of the Department of Human Services or to a law enforcement agency. Anyone can, and should, report the abuse when they suspect an older adult is in danger.
ORS 163.205: Criminal Mistreatment
Beyond the civil remedies, Oregon’s criminal code makes it a felony for a caregiver to withhold necessary care or to abuse a dependent person. A criminal prosecution and a civil claim can proceed at the same time; a criminal case punishes the wrongdoer, while a civil claim compensates the victim and their family.
How Yaquina Law Handles Elder Abuse Cases
Our approach mirrors the process we use in every personal injury case: a careful initial interview, a detailed intake, and an aggressive investigation launched the moment you hire us. Adam Springer and his legal team offer compassionate guidance throughout the process.
For elder abuse claims, our investigation may include obtaining facility records and staffing logs, reviewing financial statements and account histories, consulting medical and geriatric-care experts, and coordinating with Adult Protective Services and law enforcement. We then pursue a full, fair resolution out of court, but are prepared to take your case to trial if a settlement cannot be reached.
If mistreatment has caused the death of an elderly loved one, family members may also have a claim under Oregon’s wrongful death statute. Cases involving substandard medical treatment may also overlap with medical malpractice law. Yaquina Law evaluates every possible avenue of recovery when we take on a case.
Taking legal action against an abuser or a facility can feel daunting, but you do not carry that burden alone. Yaquina Law manages the paperwork, deadlines, and negotiations so your family can focus on your loved one’s recovery and safety.
If You Suspect Elder Abuse, Take Action Now
If you believe an older adult is in immediate danger, call 911. To report suspected abuse in Oregon, contact the Department of Human Services or the local Area Agency on Aging, or call the state’s toll-free Aging and People with Disabilities line. Once your loved one is safe, contact Yaquina Law. The sooner we begin, the more effectively we can preserve evidence and protect your family’s rights.
Our elder abuse attorney serves Newport, Lincoln County, and communities throughout the Oregon Coast. There is no fee to speak with us, and we handle these cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover for you. Contact us today or call (541) 272-5500 to schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The abused person can bring a claim, and so can a guardian, conservator, or personal representative acting on their behalf. If the abuse resulted in death, the person’s estate may pursue the claim. Our abuse lawyers can quickly determine who has the legal standing to file in your family’s situation.
Abuse typically refers to an affirmative act that causes harm, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, or psychological abuse, while neglect is the failure to provide necessary care. Both are actionable under Oregon law. Abusive neglectful conduct in a care facility, such as leaving a resident unattended until they develop bedsores, is one of the most common claims we handle.
Warning signs that someone is trying to financially exploit an older adult include sudden changes to wills or account beneficiaries, unexplained withdrawals or transfers, missing property, new “friends” who take control of finances, and unpaid bills despite adequate resources. Financial abuse can be committed by strangers or by trusted relatives, and Oregon’s treble-damages statute provides a strong remedy when it happens.
Under ORS 124.130, most civil claims must be filed within seven years of discovering the abuse. Other deadlines may apply depending on the specific theories involved, so it is important to consult an abuse attorney promptly rather than assume you have unlimited time.
When you prevail under Oregon’s vulnerable-person statute, you may recover three times your economic damages (such as stolen funds and medical expenses), three times your noneconomic damages (such as pain and suffering), plus reasonable attorney fees. Additional remedies may be available in nursing home abuse and wrongful death cases.
Yes. We pursue nursing home abuse and neglect claims against licensed facilities, including those involving understaffing, inadequate training, and failure to follow care plans. Facilities that fail to protect their residents can be held fully accountable.
We handle elder abuse cases on a contingency-fee basis, so there are no upfront costs. You pay attorney fees only if we obtain a recovery, and in many cases Oregon law requires the wrongdoer to pay your fees on top of your damages.
Make sure your loved one is safe, report the abuse to the appropriate authorities, document everything you can, and then contact us. We will guide you through the rest and help you decide whether pursuing a claim is the right step for your family.
If you are worried about the safety or finances of an elderly loved one, do not wait. Call Yaquina Law at (541) 272-5500 or schedule a free consultation today.