The husband of a Connecticut visiting nurse, Joyce Grayson, who was killed during an appointment with a convicted rapist filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her employer, Elara Caring. The lawsuit alleges that Elara Caring repeatedly ignored safety concerns raised by workers about treating dangerous patients, resulting in Grayson’s death. Grayson was found dead in the basement of a halfway house in Willimantic, where she was strangled and suffered multiple blunt force injuries. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and claims that employees had experienced harassment, assault, and threats from unstable and violent patients.
According to the lawsuit, Elara Caring failed to address nurses’ concerns and instead encouraged them to focus on increasing profitability. Nurses were allegedly chastised and led to believe that they were overreacting to dangerous situations. The company is accused of not implementing policies that would allow escorts or other staff to accompany nurses when visiting potentially dangerous clients. The lawsuit claims that Grayson’s death was preventable and those responsible for failing to protect her from a violent offender should be held accountable. Elara Caring denies the allegations made against them, stating that they provide care for over 60,000 patients in 17 states.
Joyce Grayson had an appointment to administer medication to Michael Reese, who had served 14 years in prison for stabbing and sexually assaulting a woman in 2006. Reese is charged with Grayson’s murder, and his lawyers have not returned messages seeking comment. Elara Caring maintains that Connecticut officials, including the Department of Correction and the Board of Pardons and Parole, were responsible for determining Reese was not a danger to the community. The company expressed devastation and anger over Grayson’s death, calling her a trusted friend, colleague, and mentor.
The killing of Joyce Grayson has prompted calls for greater protections for home health care workers in Connecticut and across the country. Connecticut lawmakers are considering a bill to improve safety for health care workers. Grayson’s family is seeking permission to sue the state Judicial Branch and the Department of Correction for $25 million for their oversight of Reese. The lawsuit also names The Connection, the provider of the community treatment program at the halfway house where Grayson was killed. The Connection declined to comment on the lawsuit’s allegations, expressing sorrow over the tragic loss of Grayson.
Last week, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed fining Elara Caring approximately $161,000 for failing to protect Joyce Grayson. The investigation into Grayson’s death has sparked a broader conversation about the safety of health care workers and the need for improved protocols in dealing with potentially dangerous patients. The lawsuit filed by Grayson’s husband seeks justice for her untimely death and accountability for those who failed to ensure her safety.
