State can be sued over death of vet at vets home

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) - The state can be sued over the death of a World War II veteran with dementia who was attacked after wandering into another man's room at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. In a 2-1 decision, the Michigan appeals court says the state isn't immune to a lawsuit because the negligence claimed by Andrew Ball Jr.'s family was related to his treatment. The 84-year-old man was struck several times in the head after entering another man's room in 2012. Ball died a few days later. Ball was living in a secured dementia unit at the state-run veterans home but somehow was able to get out. In dissent, Judge Joel Hoekstra says the state should be entitled to immunity because the incident wasn't tied to medical malpractice. Published: Fri, Aug 29, 2014