If you believe your loved one was injured or tragically killed due to a serious infection that should have been treated at a nursing home, you need help now. I’m Jonathan Barrett, your Mississippi nursing home sepsis lawsuit lawyer at Barrett Law, PLLC. For decades, I’ve helped families across Mississippi hold negligent nursing homes accountable when preventable infections—including fatal sepsis—are allowed to take a resident’s life.
Sepsis is a life-threatening blood or organ-system infection that often begins with untreated wounds, pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections or pneumonia. Many nursing homes in Mississippi fail to monitor residents, respond to early signs of infection, or follow physician orders. When that failure results in death, the facility can and should be held responsible. My firm investigates those failures, identifies how the nursing home’s system broke down, and pursues full compensation for the family members left behind.
Understanding Fatal Sepsis in Mississippi Nursing Homes
Sepsis does not simply “happen” to residents—it often follows a chain of preventable events. In a nursing home setting, these might include:
-
A resident develops a pressure ulcer or a catheter-related infection that is not properly cleaned or monitored.
-
Staff overlook signs of infection—such as fever, redness, drainage, elevated heart rate or confusion—and delay physician notification.
-
The infection spreads, the resident enters septic shock, organs fail, and the resident dies.
Because these outcomes are frequently preventable when proper care is given, they often raise serious questions of negligence. If the nursing home failed to follow infection control protocols, ignored physician orders, or understaffed the facility so that infection signs were missed, your loved one’s death may be grounds for a lawsuit.
Who Can Be Affected —and Who We Help
Anyone living in a nursing home in Mississippi is vulnerable—especially elderly residents, those with chronic conditions (diabetes, kidney disease, immune compromise), or those who are bedridden. Families we assist include spouses, children, adult children, siblings, and estate representatives of residents who died after a neglected infection became fatal.
We help families from all over Mississippi—Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Oxford, Tupelo, Southaven, Meridian, Madison, Pearl, Clinton, Brandon and beyond. If you suspect sepsis caused your loved one’s death in a nursing facility in Mississippi, our firm will investigate, preserve records, and hold the facility to account.
Legal Obligations and Statutes Under Mississippi Law
Duty of Care: Nursing homes owe residents a duty to provide safe care, monitor infections, follow physician orders and act promptly when signs of illness appear.
Wrongful Death Statute: Under Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-13, when a person’s death is caused by a real, wrongful or negligent act or omission, a wrongful death claim may be brought by the deceased’s estate or by surviving family members.
Statute of Limitations: Generally, you must file a wrongful death claim in Mississippi within three years from the date of death.
Federal and State Standards: Nursing homes must comply with federal nursing home regulations (via Medicare/Medicaid conditions of participation) and Mississippi’s licensure and vulnerable adults statutes.
These laws mean that, in cases of fatal sepsis resulting from neglect, the nursing home may bear liability for failing in its care duties.
Common Failures Leading to Sepsis Deaths
-
Ignoring or delaying care for pressure ulcers or infected wounds.
-
Failing to monitor residents who have indwelling catheters or feeding tubes—both major infection risks.
-
Poor sanitation, shared equipment, inadequate hand hygiene or lack of infection-control training.
-
Staff shifts out of ratio or inexperienced personnel who miss early warning signs of infection.
-
Failing to respond to fevers, confusion, low urine output or other early indicators of sepsis.
-
Neglecting to transfer a resident to hospital when infection became severe.
When such failures allow an infection to become sepsis—and the resident dies—the nursing home may be responsible.
How We Prove a Nursing Home Sepsis Lawsuit
Our approach involves:
-
Obtaining nursing home records, infection logs, wound-care charts, physician orders, admission records, transfer records, hospital records.
-
Reviewing the timeline: when the infection began, when signs were ignored, when treatment was (or wasn’t) initiated.
-
Employing medical and wound-care experts to establish standard of care and how the facility deviated from it.
-
Demonstrating causation: that the facility’s breach led to the infection evolving into fatal sepsis.
-
Seeking damages for the wrongful death under Mississippi law (including funeral costs, medical expenses, loss of companionship) and, when warranted, punitive damages.
What Compensation Can Families Recover
Families may recover:
-
Costs of medical treatment and hospitalization prior to death.
-
Funeral and burial costs.
-
Loss of income or support the deceased would have provided.
-
Pain and suffering the deceased endured before death (via a survival claim).
-
Loss of consortium, companionship, and guidance for surviving family.
-
Punitive damages in cases of willful or grossly negligent conduct.
These damages are available under Mississippi wrongful death law and can provide meaningful relief when a loved one dies due to sepsis in a nursing home.
What to Do If You Suspect Your Loved One Died From Sepsis in a Nursing Home
-
Request records: wound-care logs, infection charts, physician orders, incident reports.
-
Obtain the death certificate and any autopsy or pathology reports—often these will list sepsis or systemic infection as cause of death.
-
Preserve evidence: take photographs of wounds, bedsores, infection sites if still possible; keep correspondence with the facility.
-
Don’t sign away your rights: avoid signing any release or settlement with the nursing home before speaking to an attorney.
-
Contact a dedicated nursing home sepsis lawyer as soon as possible—early investigation preserves evidence and meets deadlines.
Because the statute of limitations is strict in Mississippi, waiting can cost your family the right to pursue compensation.
Why Choose Barrett Law, PLLC
At Barrett Law, I lead a team experienced in nursing home wrongful death litigation. We have decades of experience with sepsis, infection control, wound-care negligence and fatality cases in long-term care facilities. We handle every aspect of your case—from investigation and expert review to negotiation and litigation. And we do it on a contingency basis: you owe no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for your family.
We serve families statewide—north, central and south Mississippi, including coastal communities. When a nursing home ignored infection protocols and lost a life, we fight for justice.
Nursing Home Sepsis Lawsuit Frequently Asked Questions
What is sepsis and why is it dangerous in nursing homes?
Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection, which can rapidly lead to organ failure and death. In nursing homes, residents often have weakened immune systems and underlying conditions, making them more vulnerable. When staff fail to monitor infections or act on warning signs, sepsis becomes likely.
Can I still sue if the death certificate lists natural causes rather than sepsis?
Yes. The death certificate may not reflect the full chain of causation. An attorney and medical expert can review wound-care records, infection logs and treatment delays to link negligence to sepsis and death.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Mississippi?
Typically, you have three years from the date of the resident’s death to file a wrongful death claim in Mississippi. Acting early is critical for preserving evidence.
What evidence will my lawyer need to prove the nursing home’s fault?
Important evidence includes nursing home charts, wound-care records, infection reports, staffing logs, physician orders, hospital records, and expert testimony linking facility failures to the fatal infection.
Is the nursing home always liable for sepsis deaths?
No. Not every sepsis death means liability. The key is whether the nursing home breached its duty of care (e.g., failed to monitor, delay treatment) and whether that breach caused the death. We review each case carefully.
What happens if the nursing home is owned by a large corporation?
Liability may extend beyond the facility to the parent corporation, if staffing shortages, policies or training failures contributed to the death. We investigate ownership and corporate oversight where needed.
Are punitive damages available in Mississippi nursing home sepsis cases?
Yes, if the facility’s conduct was willfully negligent or grossly reckless, punitive damages may apply under Mississippi law.
How quickly will a case settle?
Every case is unique. Some settlements happen within months when liability is clear; others take longer if the facility contests the claim. Our goal is prompt resolution while preserving your rights.
What does it cost to hire your firm?
At Barrett Law, you pay no upfront attorney fees. We work on contingency—meaning you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for your family.
Has Your Loved One Died From Sepsis in a Mississippi Nursing Home?
Call Mississippi Nursing Home Sepsis Lawsuit Lawyer Jonathan Barrett 24/7/365 at (601) 790-1505 for Your FREE Consultation
If your loved one died because a nursing home neglected to prevent, monitor or treat infection—leading to fatal sepsis—please contact us today. You deserve answers, accountability and compensation. Barrett Law, PLLC represents families throughout Mississippi, including the Gulf Coast, North Mississippi, Central Mississippi and the cities of Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Southaven, Olive Branch, Tupelo, Meridian, Pearl, Madison, Greenville, Oxford, Clinton, Horn Lake and Brandon.
Jonathan Barrett Fights for Mississippians – Call 24/7/365 at (601) 790-1505 to Receive Your FREE Consultation
At Barrett Law, PLLC we represent survivors, families and estates of residents who lost their lives to preventable sepsis in nursing homes. We hold facilities accountable, expose infection-control failures, and fight for full recovery of compensation. Contact us today—we are ready to review your case and stand with your family.
