The family of a World War II veteran with dementia who was attacked and died after wandering into another man's room at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans in 2012 has settled a lawsuit against the state of Michigan. The family of Andrew Ball Jr. will get $544,000 and the state will cover $281,000 in court costs and attorney fees. The 84-year-old man was struck several times in the head after entering another man's room in April 2012. Ball died a few days later.
The death was ruled a homicide, but prosecutors declined to bring charges against the other man in part because he also had dementia. Ball was living in a secured dementia unit at the state-run veterans home but somehow was able to get out.
