Andrew Cuomo's Nursing Home Death Case Dismissed: Justice Prevails After Years of Scrutiny

Cuomo Cleared in Nursing Home Death Case: Judge Dismisses Lawsuit

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding his handling of nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit, filed in early 2022 by families of residents who died from COVID-19 in nursing homes, accused Cuomo's administration of undercounting fatalities.

Cuomo's spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, stated that the debate over COVID-19 in nursing homes had been "weaponized" for political gain. He emphasized that the truth had prevailed, with the judge's dismissal mirroring the decisions of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Manhattan District Attorney, who had previously launched separate probes into the matter.

Cuomo's reputation suffered during the pandemic after revelations about his administration's incomplete accounting of deaths in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. He resigned in August 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment, which he denies.

While a state report commissioned by Cuomo's successor, Governor Kathy Hochul, acknowledged that the policies on nursing home COVID-19 management were "rushed and uncoordinated," it concluded that they were based on the best scientific understanding at the time.

Cuomo faced a grilling from Republican lawmakers during a congressional subcommittee hearing earlier this month. They focused on a controversial directive issued in March 2020 that initially barred nursing homes from refusing COVID-positive patients. Over 9,000 recovering coronavirus patients were released from hospitals into nursing homes under this directive, which was later rescinded due to concerns about accelerated outbreaks.

Cuomo defended his actions, blaming the Trump administration for failing to provide adequate testing and personal protective equipment in the early stages of the pandemic. He stated that attempts to blame New York and other states were diversions from the "malpractice" of the federal response.

The House committee report, however, did not investigate whether discharged patients were still contagious when readmitted to nursing homes or if they subsequently transmitted the virus to other residents. Cuomo maintained that the report lacked evidence to support the allegation that the directive contributed to the spread of the virus.

There were approximately 15,000 COVID-19 deaths among long-term care residents in New York, a figure significantly higher than the initial disclosure. Cuomo attributed the initial withholding of data to concerns about accuracy.