MISMANAGEMENT AT THE Holyoke Soldiers’ Home undoubtedly contributed to the high COVID-19 death toll there in the first days of the pandemic. The question before the state’s highest court is whether the actions of the home’s former leaders may have constituted criminal behavior. During oral arguments on Wednesday, Supreme Judicial Court justices asked pointed questions […]
Bennett Walsh
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge dismisses criminal charges against Bennett Walsh
A HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT judge on Monday dismissed all criminal charges against former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home superintendent Bennett Walsh and medical director David Clinton for their roles in the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the home. Attorney General Maura Healey had filed charges against the two top Soldiers’ Home officials alleging that their reckless conduct in […]
Posted inHealth Care
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home report details ‘crisis of leadership’
A REPORT BY a legislative committee formed to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home that left 77 veterans dead faulted a “crisis of leadership” for substantially contributing to what it called a “perfect storm” and a “preventable tragedy.” “As we outline in this report, the causes were both immediate, including inexplicable decisions […]
Posted inHealth Care
$176 million lawsuit filed against Holyoke Soldiers’ Home officials
THE FAMILY OF a veteran who died of COVID-19 at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home is filing a class action lawsuit against former Superintendent Bennett Walsh, former Secretary of Veterans’ Services Francisco Urena, and other state officials, arguing that they are responsible for the deaths of 76 veterans at the home. The lawsuit filed in US District […]
Posted inHealth Care
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home medical director resigns
THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, site of one of the country’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks, has given his notice and plans to resign from the position as soon as a replacement can be found. Interim administrator Val Liptak told the Soldiers’ Home’s Board of Trustees Tuesday night that David Clinton will remain on […]