Judge Maggio Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribe in Nursing Home Lawsuit

Former Circuit Judge Mike Maggio pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe in exchange for reducing a verdict against a nursing home found liable for the 2008 death of a resident.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Little Rock, 53-year-old Maggio entered his plea in the U.S. District Court of Little Rock and has not yet been sentenced.

Political motivations are no excuse for unfairly reducing a verdict. As Wisconsins largest nursing home abuse law firm, Pitman, Kyle, Sicula & Dentice believes that the victims of such heinous crimes deserve swift justice for what has been taken from them. If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect is affecting your loved one, contact PKSD today.

Court documents did not reveal the name of the nursing home in question, but in 2013, Maggio reduced a verdict for Greenbrier Nursing Home from $5.2 million to $1 million in the death of Martha Bull, a 76-year-old resident of the facility who died as a result of an untreated abdominal abscess.The description of the Greenbrier case matches the details of the plea agreement exactly

Greenbrier is owned by Michael Morton of Fort Smith. A mere two days after announcing his candidacy for the Arkansas Court of Appeals in June 2013, Maggios campaign fundraiser allegedly told him that a $50,000 contribution was on the way from Greenbrier Nursing Home.

According to court documents, on or about July 8, 2013, Maggio held a meeting to discuss Greenbriers appeal of the verdict; two days later, Maggio denied Greenbrier’s request for a new trial, but agreed to reduce the verdict by $4.1 million.

On that same timeline, three checks were written totaling $24,000 in support of Maggios campaign, allegedly by Morton.

The plea agreement confirms that Maggio’s decision to reduce the nursing homes verdict was a direct result of the contributions to his campaign.

Maggios admission carries a penalty of up to 10 years of jail time and a fine of up to $250,000.

Maggio has since removed himself from the state Court of Appeals race and is no longer permitted to serve as a judge within Arkansas due to breach of judicial conduct. Cherith Beck, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Little Rock, said the investigation is ongoing, which means more charges may arise as details continue to emerge.

Our Milwaukee nursing home abuse lawyers will continue to monitor the progress of this case and report on the details.

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