Law v. State

Geneva Law’s house was condemned as unsafe, and Geneva went to live with her sister. However, both sisters were elderly, and Geneva had cognitive issues that prevented her from being able to care for herself. Because Geneva’s sister was also unable to care for Geneva, the state’s adult protective services were called for help. The state (plaintiff) located Geneva’s son, Warren Law (defendant). Warren grudgingly agreed to take Geneva to his home, where he lived with his sister, Mary Law (defendant). The state then closed Geneva’s case. However, four years later, a paramedic responded to a call at Warren’s house. The paramedic and other officials who eventually responded noted the strong smell of rotting flesh and filth at the house and on Geneva. The house was covered in feces, urine, trash, and mold. Geneva’s body was soaked with urine and feces, and Geneva was laying on plastic trash and a soaked bed. Ants and cockroaches were crawling on Geneva and around the room. Geneva was malnourished and had bedsores so severe that her spine was visible through one sore on her back. Geneva also had multiple infections, significant bruising all over her body, and a brain injury. Some of Geneva’s injuries were inconsistent with falls and consistent with physical trauma or abuse. Geneva was immediately hospitalized, but she died a month later. Warren and Mary were both convicted of criminally neglecting Geneva. Warren appealed, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to establish that (1) Geneva was impaired, (2) he was her caregiver, or (3) he had neglected her.