Politics & Patients – A History Of Controversies With Brighton Rehabilitation & Wellness Center

A large outbreak of COVID-19 at the Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center has made the facility a subject of international attention, with news coverage by organizations like CBS, NBC, and the Daily Mail, along with headlines on sites like The Drudge Report.

Brighton Rehab continues to obscure details of the outbreak from both the public and family members of those residing within the facility, bringing even greater controversy upon the nursing home.

But long before a novel coronavirus became a global pandemic, Brighton Rehab had already been a subject of contention in the county.

It hosted a big-money fundraiser for Governor Tom Wolf. It gave contracts to the children of the county treasurer as she unilaterally withdrew funds for it from county accounts. It hired the county’s solicitor to work simultaneously as its own attorney. It was the topic of a state police investigation before the county district attorney “fired them” from the case. It was the subject of litigation brought by county commissioners who then abandoned the lawsuit before a single motion had been put before a judge.

BeaverCountian.com published well over 100 articles about the facility, its New York owners, and a tumultuous 2013 corporate acquisition of what was once the publicly-owned Friendship Ridge nursing home.

For historical context, here is just some of that coverage.

Controversies With Solicitor Joe Askar

– Investigative Report: Former Chief County Solicitor Represented New Friendship Ridge Owners While Still Employed By The County

– Former County Solicitor Joe Askar Hosting Big Money Campaign Fundraiser For Gov Wolf At “Friendship Ridge” Facility

– Commissioner Egley Seeks Investigation Into Former County Solicitor Joe Askar By Supreme Court Disciplinary Board

– Commissioner Egley’s Complaint Against Former County Solicitor Askar Dismissed By Disciplinary Board

– Former County Solicitor & “Friendship Ridge” Attorney Praises Commissioner Camp In Post To Egley’s Social Media Page

Controversies With Treasurer Connie Javens And Financial Admin Vince LaValle

– Treasurer Connie Javens Refused To Cooperate With Audit Into Friendship Ridge Sale

– Treasurer’s Daughter Lands Lucrative Friendship Ridge Contract

– New Friendship Ridge Owners Appealing Facility’s Property Tax Assessment

– Financial Administrator: County Officials Paid $300,000 Bonus To New Friendship Ridge Owners Without Justification

– Bank Slips Show $3.4 Million Unilaterally Withdrawn By Financial Administrator LaValle & Treasurer Javens

– In-Depth: Officials Say New Friendship Ridge Owners Had “Money Problems” – County “Loaned” Them At Least $1.2 Million As Sale Was Being Completed

– Former Financial Administrator’s Email “Explains” $1.2 Million “Loan” To Friendship Ridge

– Audit Of Friendship Ridge Finished – Confirms Controller Rossi’s Findings That Company Owes County More Than $1.3 Million

Controversies With District Attorney David Lozier

– District Attorney Lozier: State Police Conducted An “Unauthorized Investigation” Into County Corruption

– The Beaver Countian Obtains County Detective’s Notes From Investigation Into Treasurer Connie Javens

– County Resident Sends Investigators A 180-Page Dossier On Sale Of Friendship Ridge

Controversies With County Commissioners

– Big Questions After Large Bonuses Handed Out By County Commissioners

– Sources: Prior Board Of Commissioners Stopped Investigation Into Friendship Ridge By Outside Law Firm Until After Last Year’s Elections

– Commissioners Send Letter To Owners Of Friendship Ridge About The $1.2 Million They Say Is Still Owed To The County

– Beaver County Commissioners Decide To File Lawsuit Over Payment For Friendship Ridge

– Camp Flips – County Will Release Another $300,000 To New Friendship Ridge Owners And Surrender Lawsuit

– In-Depth: Beaver County Hid Massive Deficits – Wrote Millions In “Bad Checks” At The End Of Last Year