A Maryland-based health care real estate investment trust company said in a regulatory filing that it plans to appeal the decision by a Hartford Superior court judge to close four of its nursing homes in the state.
Omega Healthcare Investors said in a quarterly filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it “intends to file a timely notice of appeal, taking the position that the Court’s order is final and appealable, and erroneous.”
Hartford Superior Court Judge Jerry Wagner last month ordered the closure of four Omega-owned Connecticut nursing homes, which had been under financial distress.
They include Bishops Corner Skilled Nursing in West Hartford; Rocky Hill Skilled Nursing in Rocky Hill; Soundview Skilled Nursing in West Haven; and University Skilled Nursing in New Haven.
All four homes, which were placed in receivership earlier this year.
It was not clear Tuesday if an appeal has been filed yet. Omega officials did not return a call seeking comment. Hartford lawyer Jon Newton, who is representing Omega, also did not return requests for comment.
Omega took control of the homes in 2008 from the troubled Haven Healthcare company, which went bankrupt.
Together, those homes have 472 beds, and court records indicate they all appear to be drowning in red ink. They ended the 2009 fiscal year with losses of $1 million to $2 million each.
Deborah Chernoff, head of the New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, SEIU Healthcare, said last week the decision to close the nursing homes was “ill-considered,” and will cause 575 nurses, nursing assistants, support staff and administrators to lose their jobs and benefits.
Some 400 elderly residents will also be evicted from their home.
In its federal filing Omega said the closure order forced the company to record an impairment charge of $24.4 million during the first quarter.
