GRAND BAY, AL — A civil lawsuit filed in Mobile County Circuit Court accuses Arabella Health and Wellness of Grand Bay of covering up the repeated sexual abuse of a 21-year-old nonverbal female resident by another patient at the 92-bed facility, according to multiple regional news reports.
The lawsuit, filed in March 2025 by attorney Robert Hedge, alleges that staff at the for-profit nursing home were aware of escalating incidents involving a male resident targeting the young woman — identified in court documents as A.M. — but failed to intervene, protect the victim, or report the alleged abuse to law enforcement, as reported by WKRG, Fox 10, and NBC 15.
A.M. has been diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that renders her unable to walk, speak, or defend herself, requiring around-the-clock care, according to NBC 15. Her mother, Melanie Ellinger, told reporters that the family entrusted the facility with her daughter's safety and was devastated by what allegedly occurred.
According to Fox 10 and NBC 15, the first known incident took place in December 2024, when Ellinger's husband reportedly witnessed a male resident across the hall from A.M.'s room engaging in sexual self-gratification while staring into the young woman's room. Staff reportedly closed the door and apologized but took no further protective action.
The situation allegedly escalated on January 13, 2025, when the same male resident was discovered unclothed in A.M.'s bed, touching her, according to Fox 10. Rather than contacting law enforcement or arranging a sexual assault examination, the facility allegedly characterized the contact as "comfort-seeking behavior," according to NBC 15. Multiple outlets report that when Ellinger requested a forensic examination, the facility declined. A hospital exam was not conducted until nearly three days after the incident, according to Fox 10, and reportedly found no physical evidence of assault.
In what the family's attorney described as a baffling decision, the facility allegedly moved A.M. away from her room near the nurses' station to a more isolated location within the building, according to Lagniappe Mobile. The family ultimately removed A.M. from the facility on March 29, 2025, and has since hired a 24-hour private caregiver while seeking placement at another facility, as reported by NBC 15. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover the costs of her continued care.
The Mobile County Sheriff's Office is investigating the allegations and plans to present its findings to the district attorney, according to Fox 10.
Arabella Health and Wellness declined to comment on the pending litigation, according to Yahoo News.
CMS Inspection History
Federal inspection records maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services paint a troubling picture of Arabella Health and Wellness of Grand Bay that predates the allegations in this lawsuit. The facility currently holds an overall rating of just 2 out of 5 stars from CMS, with a particularly alarming health inspection rating of 1 out of 5 stars — the lowest possible score. The facility's staffing rating stands at 2 out of 5 stars.
CMS records show 17 total deficiencies across 7 inspections on file, with the most recent inspection conducted on October 6, 2023.
Several of those documented deficiencies are directly relevant to the current allegations. During a July 2022 inspection, federal surveyors cited the facility for failing to timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of investigations to proper authorities — a deficiency that mirrors the core allegation in the current lawsuit. That same inspection also flagged failures to develop complete care plans and to provide adequate assistance with activities of daily living for residents unable to perform them independently.
The October 2023 inspection cited the facility for failing to honor residents' rights to a dignified existence and self-determination. An August 2023 inspection resulted in a Severity K citation — one of the more serious deficiency levels — for failing to ensure residents received food prepared to meet individual needs.
The pattern of deficiencies related to abuse reporting and resident rights documented in federal records raises serious questions about whether systemic failures at the facility may have contributed to the conditions alleged in the current lawsuit.
Ownership & Operations
The facility's ownership history adds another layer to the case. According to Lagniappe Mobile, Arabella Health and Wellness of Grand Bay was previously operated as Grand Bay Convalescent Home Inc. before being acquired in October 2024 for approximately $3.5 million by a group linked to HWood Partners LLC, a company registered to Chaim Hertzel and Seth Fein of Hollywood, Florida.
CMS records classify the facility as a for-profit corporation with 92 certified beds.
Attorney Hedge has alleged that the ownership structure contributed to cost-cutting measures and negligent care conditions, according to Lagniappe Mobile. Hedge further claimed that the ownership group operates additional Alabama nursing facilities, including locations on Springhill Avenue in Mobile and in Fairhope, and alleged that similar patterns of reckless conditions exist across the portfolio, as reported by Lagniappe Mobile.
The family is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages through the civil lawsuit, according to Yahoo News.
Resources for Families
Families who suspect abuse or neglect in an Alabama long-term care facility can contact the following resources:
- Alabama Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: 1-800-243-5463 - National Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-800-677-1116 - Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center: https://ltcombudsman.org
Federal law requires nursing homes to report any suspected abuse to both state authorities and law enforcement within prescribed timeframes. Families have the right to file complaints with their state survey agency and to contact local law enforcement directly if they believe a resident is in immediate danger.