That is the only kind of case we take. For more than 25 years, Gugenheim Law has represented North Carolinians, and the families of North Carolinians, harmed by negligence in nursing homes, assisted living and memory care facilities, and hospitals.
Gugenheim Law is one of the only law firms in North Carolina that exclusively represents plaintiffs in cases of serious injury and death in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. We do not take car wrecks, general personal injury, or anything else.
These cases are complicated. They turn on state and federal regulations, staffing records, care plans, and medical evidence that facilities control. Because this is all we do, Steve and Julie Gugenheim personally handle each case, and they have filed in excess of 200 lawsuits against North Carolina nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals.
That focus also means we are selective. We take a limited number of cases so that each one receives the attention it deserves.
If you are unsure whether your situation fits, submit it confidentially. We will tell you honestly.
Falls resulting in fractures, head injuries, or death · Stage 3 and 4 pressure sores · Wandering and elopement · Sexual and physical assault · Severe malnutrition and dehydration · Sepsis and serious infections · Medication errors · Bed rail entrapment · Failure to notify a physician of a change in condition
Nursing homes, assisted living (adult care homes), memory care units, and hospitals.
In cases against nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals, North Carolina law caps damages for pain and suffering and most wrongful death damages at $712,847 (as of January 1, 2026), unless the family can prove gross negligence. Medical expenses and lost wages are not capped. We explain how the cap may affect your case before you decide anything.
How the damage cap worksThree areas of law, each centered on people who depend on others for their care.
Falls, pressure sores, wandering and elopement, sexual assault, overmedication, sepsis, and serious infections. For more than 25 years we have represented North Carolinians seriously injured, and the families of those who died, because of nursing home negligence.
More on Nursing Home Negligence
North Carolina calls them adult care homes and memory care facilities. When a resident is seriously injured or dies after a fall, elopement, assault, malnutrition, dehydration, or a failure to notify a healthcare provider, we investigate.
More on Assisted Living & Memory Care Negligence
Each year, roughly 700,000 to 1 million patient falls occur in U.S. hospitals, resulting in approximately 250,000 injuries and as many as 11,000 deaths. Many of these falls could have been prevented.
More on Hospital Falls
“These types of lawsuits are complicated. Experience, knowledge, and results matter.”Gugenheim Law
Steve and Julie Gugenheim have tried nursing home and assisted living cases together since 2003. When you hire Gugenheim Law, they are the lawyers on your case.
Steve has devoted his practice for the last 25 years to the representation of plaintiffs in nursing home, assisted living, and hospital fall cases. He is Past Chair of the NC Advocates for Justice Nursing Home Negligence Section.
Read Steve’s profile
Julie has practiced law for over 30 years, trying more than 50 jury trials as a prosecutor and over 24 civil trials as a defense lawyer before joining Gugenheim Law.
Read Julie’s profile
Over $50 million recovered for the families of people injured or killed through the negligence of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals.
One of the largest published settlements in North Carolina in a long-term care case, for the family of an adult care home resident who died after becoming entrapped in his bed rail.
One of the largest reported settlements for a patient who fell in a hospital.
Settlement for a nursing home patient who fell from a loading dock, far in excess of the North Carolina damage caps.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case has its own facts and issues that determine its value. Read our full results disclosure, including unfavorable results.
We accept only cases involving wrongful death or serious injury caused by negligence in nursing homes, assisted living and memory care facilities, and hospitals. If that describes what happened to you or someone you love, we want to hear from you.
An attorney will review what you shared. If your matter is urgent, please call us at 919-836-5551.
