Sababin

Arlene Renteria (Renteria) was diagnosed with Huntington’s chorea, a disease that subjected her to the risk of skin deteriora tion. Though there is a conflict of evidence that must be resolved by a trier of fact, there is evidence that Renteria was transferred to Huntington East Valley Hospital (East Valley) from Covina Rehabilitation Center (Covina) with sores, ulcers and methicillin-resistant staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA). She died two months later at Kindred Hospital at age 38 due to infection to a sacral decubitus skin ulcer. For three years prior to her admission to East Valley, Renteria was in the care of Covina. Renteria’s successors in interest (Renteria’s successors) sued Covina for, among other things, dependent adult abuse on the theory that Covina did not satisfy its custodial obligation to meet Renteria’s basic needs when it failed to follow the care plan for the maintenance of Renteria’s skin.

The trial court granted summary adjudication of the dependent adult abuse cause of action on the ground that there was no evidence that Covina was guilty of something more than professional negligence. Renteria’s successors challenge the trial court’s order by way of…