The Arkansas Supreme Court has agreed with a circuit court that a wrongful death complaint claiming understaffing by a nursing home may proceed as a class-action lawsuit.

Attorneys for the Robinson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in North Little Rock, AR, declined comment on the decision.

The son of a former resident filed suit in 2015, claiming that “chronic understaffing” led to his mother’s death. The provider, therefore, breached the admission and provider agreements, violated the state’s deceptive practices act, and “unjustly” enriched itself, the complainant argued. 

The circuit court granted the case class certification last year, opening it to all residents and their estates dating back to June 11, 2010.

The allegations against Robinson had yet to be ruled on by a court as of press time.