Family of handcuffed Ore. patient wins $900,000

Story Published: May 13, 2008 at 9:47 AM PDT

By Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Multnomah County jury has awarded $900,000 to the family of an 86-year-old woman who was forced to the floor and handcuffed at a nursing home by Lake Oswego police.

The late Elvera Stephan had Alzheimer's disease. The jury agreed yesterday that Avamere, the corporate owner of The Pearl care center, had been negligent and reckless in its conduct in April, 2006.

A surveillance video was played for the jury. But an attorney argued the Alzheimer's patient did not remember what happened so she could not have experienced a loss of dignity.

Two officers forced the elderly woman to the floor, where they rolled her onto her stomach and handcuffed her hands behind her back. She remained on the floor for six minutes.

The family's attorney told jurors ''Just because she had Alzheimer's disease or memory loss...does that mean she's not entitled to the same kind of dignity as you or I?''