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A Louisiana skilled nursing operator has reached a settlement agreement with residents and family members who sued over botched evacuations during Hurricane Ida that led to a dozen deaths, according to a report by The Advocate. 

Dean’s lawyers announced the settlement in documents filed with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, according to the report. His insurance policies max out between $12 million and $15 million, and would cover payouts for the plaintiffs. 

“That equates to less than $18,000 on average for each patient Dean ordered evacuated to the warehouse in Independence from seven since-shuttered nursing homes, minus attorney fees,” the report said.

Public outrage followed the evacuation of more than 800 residents to an otherwise empty warehouse in preparation for Hurricane Ida. The residents were all from facilities owned by Dean, who also owned the warehouse. 

Don Massey, a lawyer for several residents and families, said they’re also considering medical malpractice suits against Dean and nursing home medical directors. 

“I wish as much as anybody, certainly our families and residents, that Bob Dean was more financially responsible than he’s proven to be. We are not finding any assets that are readily available to grab and convert to money for our residents,” Massey said. 

Dean was arrested on cruelty and Medicaid fraud charges in late June following a 10-month investigation into the evacuations. He has since been released on a $350,000 bond.