Harouni v. People's Care: A Day-Program Fall, No 911 Call, and a Man Who Can No Longer Walk

What the complaint alleges

Navid Harouni went to an adult day program run by People's Care LLC at its Pasadena Community Center. Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center authorized and paid for the program under Navid's Individual Program Plan. People's Care was a "vendored" provider. That means the regional center approved it to serve people with developmental disabilities.

The complaint alleges that every defendant knew Navid's needs. His plan said he walks slowly, has gait and balance limits, and needs close supervision and physical help in community settings.

On October 17, 2024, the program took Navid on a community outing in Pasadena. At about 10:25 a.m., he fell on a step and landed on his right side. He could not stand or put weight on his right leg.

The complaint alleges that the staff member assigned to Navid was not in position to help him when he fell. It alleges that a witness told the program manager that the staff member was not walking beside him. It alleges that People's Care's own incident report recorded this.

What the complaint alleges happened after the fall

The complaint alleges that the staff response made his injuries worse. According to the complaint, staff:

• did not call 911, although he could not stand or bear weight;
• handled him and tried to get him to stand and bear weight;
• did not stabilize or immobilize his leg;
• gave first aid for a secondary, visible injury and did not recognize the serious one; and
• drove him in a program van, with no immobilization and no pain care, instead of calling an ambulance.

Navid went to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and then to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. Imaging showed a dislocated right hip and comminuted, displaced fractures of the right acetabulum (the hip socket) and the iliac bone of the pelvis. On October 18, 2024, surgeons repaired the socket with three plates and screws, released pressure on the sciatic nerve, and repaired a torn labrum. He stayed in the hospital until November 1, 2024. After that, he could not put weight on the leg for ten weeks.

A dislocated hip can cut off the blood supply to the head of the thigh bone. The complaint alleges that the risk increases the longer the dislocation lasts and the longer treatment is delayed. Navid developed avascular necrosis of the right femoral head. On or about February 21, 2025, at 44, he had a total right hip replacement.

The complaint alleges that before the fall, Navid walked, went on community outings and saw his family often. It alleges that he now uses a wheelchair full time and needs a higher level of full-time care.

The regional center's own review

The complaint alleges that Lanterman Regional Center did a quality assurance investigation after the incident. It alleges that Lanterman found a rights violation and required People's Care to take corrective action. The complaint lists that action as mandatory emergency-response training for all staff, training in incident management beyond first aid, documentation of individual supervision, and submission of the agency's emergency policies for regional center review.

The claims

The lawsuit makes four claims:

• Professional negligence, against all defendants.
• Negligent hiring, supervision, training and retention, against People's Care LLC and four related companies the complaint alleges operated as one enterprise: People's Care Holdings LLC, Bartlett Holdings LLC, Redwood Family Care Network Inc. and Redwood Family Care Network of California, LLC.
• Dependent adult abuse and neglect under the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (Welfare and Institutions Code sections 15610.23, 15610.57 and 15657), against all defendants.
• Negligent vendor selection, oversight and retention, against Lanterman Regional Center.

The complaint also names one individual staff member. Navid sues through his sister, whom the court appointed as his guardian ad litem. He asks for damages in an amount to be proven at trial, and for attorney's fees and costs under section 15657. He demands a jury trial.

Why this case matters

California families trust regional centers and the providers they approve to keep their loved ones safe.

This case asks two questions. First, what must a day-program provider do when a person in its care is hurt and cannot stand? Second, is a regional center responsible for the providers it selects, funds and monitors? The complaint alleges that a regional center's duty does not end when it signs a vendor contract.

The defendants have not been found liable. They will have the chance to answer these allegations in court.

If someone you love was hurt in a day program or care home

• Get medical care first. If the person cannot stand or bear weight after a fall, call 911.
• Ask the provider and the regional center for the incident report in writing. Regional center vendors must report serious incidents to the regional center (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 17, § 54327).
• Write down the names of the staff and the witnesses, the time, and the place.
• Keep the Individual Program Plan. It shows what level of supervision the person needs.
• Talk to a lawyer early. Read more about dependent adult abuse and neglect claims.

Sources

• Complaint for Damages, Harouni v. People's Care LLC, et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court No. 26NNCV04913, filed June 22, 2026. Look up the case on the Los Angeles Superior Court case access site.
• Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, Welfare and Institutions Code § 15600 and following; see section 15657.