NY Officials, Hospitals Ditch Suit Over Covid Transfer Policy

Three families can’t proceed with claims against New York officials and hospitals over a patient transfer policy that allegedly caused the Covid-19 deaths of their loved ones in nursing homes, a federal court said.

The hospital defendants weren’t subject to suit under federal civil rights law for allegedly violating the patients’ rights under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act because they are private entities whose actions weren’t attributable to the state, the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York said Jan. 10. New York state officials were entitled to qualified immunity because the residents’ rights under the ...