The husband of a visiting nurse from Connecticut who was killed during an appointment with a convicted rapist filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday, alleging that his employer repeatedly ignored workers’ safety concerns while treating dangerous patients.
Ronald Grayson sued Elara Caring, its affiliated companies and others for the murder of his wife, Joyce Grayson, a 63-year-old mother of six who was found dead in the basement of a halfway house in Willimantic on October 28. strangled and suffered multiple blunt force injuries, authorities said. Elara Caring, based in Dallas, Texas, denies the allegations.
“For years prior to October 28, 2023, employees of Elara Caring affiliates experienced multiple and repeated instances in which they were verbally, physically and sexually harassed, assaulted, attacked, yelled at, chased, threatened, punched, kicked, grabbed and brushed . against by mentally unstable and/or violent patients of Elara Caring,” according to the lawsuit, which seeks compensation for undisclosed damages.
Instead of addressing nurses’ concerns, the lawsuit alleges, the company encouraged employees to focus on increasing profitability while nurses were “chastised, shamed and criticized, led to believe they were overreacting.” Employees were “required to treat patients who were dangerous, mentally unstable, and often unsuitable for home health services,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit, filed in Middletown Superior Court, also accuses the company of failing to implement a policy that allows escorts or other employees to accompany nurses when they visit potentially dangerous clients.
“Joyce Grayson’s death was completely preventable and those who failed to protect her from a violent attacker should be held accountable,” said Kelly Reardon, attorney for Grayson’s family.
Elara Caring called the allegations “unwarranted” in a statement released Monday. The company says it provides home care to more than 60,000 patients in 17 states.
Joyce Grayson had an appointment to administer medication to Michael Reese that morning. Reese, who was on parole after serving 14 years in prison for stabbing and sexually assaulting a woman in 2006 in New Haven, is charged with murder and other crimes in the nurse’s death. His lawyers did not return messages seeking comment.
Elara echoed previous comments, saying that Connecticut authorities determined that Reese was not a danger to the community and were responsible for monitoring and managing his activities.
“Elara Caring provided services only after the Department of Correction, the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles, and the Judicial Branch determined that it was safe to place Reese back into the community,” the statement said. “Joyce Grayson was a trusted friend, colleague and mentor. We remain devastated and angered by her loss.”
The killing sparked a call for greater protections for home health care workers in Connecticut and across the country. Connecticut lawmakers are now considering a bill that would improve the safety of healthcare workers.
Grayson’s family is also asking for permission to sue the state Judicial Branch, which oversees parole, and the Department of Correction for $25 million in connection with Reese’s supervision. The Judiciary declined to comment and the Penitentiary Department did not return messages. People who want to sue the state need approval from the complaints commissioner’s office and the legislature.
The suit also names The Connection, which runs a community treatment program at the halfway house where Grayson was killed. Email messages requesting comment were sent to the provider.
Last week, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed fining Elara Caring about $161,000 after finding that the company failed to protect Grayson.
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