An Arizona jury last Friday awarded a landmark verdict of $11 million to the widow of a 36-year-old man with traumatic brain injury who died after ingesting foreign objects while in the care of Liberty Manor Residency, a Phoenix assisted living facility. The verdict included $2 million for the decedent, $5 million for the wife and $4 million in punitive damages. It was the largest verdict ever awarded against an assisted living facility in the United States. Autopsy results showed a number of items – including plastic bags, unopened ketchup packets, candy wrappers and paper towels – were found in the patient’s stomach and small intestines. Punitive damages are designed to punish egregious misconduct; the HensonFuerst Nursing Home Abuse lawyers believe punitive damages are often necessary to effect change.