At Cogburn Davidson Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we have decades of experience tackling nursing home abuse cases in Nevada. Our team utilizes witness accounts, medical records, and increasingly, hidden camera footage. As a leading personal injury and elder abuse law firm in Las Vegas, we have over 50 years of combined trial experience and have recovered hundreds of millions for our clients.
We understand the pain of suspecting mistreatment in a care facility. That’s why we leverage evolving investigative tools and legal developments, including Nevada’s “Henry’s Law” on in-room monitoring. This guide outlines how hidden cameras are revolutionizing nursing home abuse investigations, what’s permissible under the law in Nevada, and how we use this technology to protect victims and their families.
The Rising Role of Hidden Cameras in Nursing Home Cases
Elder abuse frequently occurs behind closed doors. Many residents cannot report mistreatment because of cognitive decline, fear, or intimidation. Hidden cameras can:
- Document physical abuse or rough handling
- Reveal neglect, such as ignored call lights or untreated wounds
- Disprove misleading staff reports
- Capture patterns of misconduct over time
- Prompt investigations that otherwise would never occur
According to research from the World Health Organization, two in three long-term-care workers admit to some form of resident abuse within the past year, yet only a fraction of cases are reported (WHO, 2022).
Hidden camera evidence has exposed widespread problems nationwide. For example:
- In Ohio, footage of staff abusing 78-year-old Esther Piskor led to criminal charges and the passage of Esther’s Law, which guarantees residents the right to in-room cameras.
- In Oklahoma, a hidden camera video revealed aides forcing a glove into a 98-year-old woman’s mouth, prompting arrests and license revocations.
- Across the U.S., investigative findings compiled by the U.S. Government Accountability Office and ProPublica show that covert recordings have led to staff terminations, regulatory fines, and multimillion-dollar settlements.
Ethical Considerations
While hidden cameras protect residents, they also raise important questions about dignity and privacy. Filming intimate care routines or private moments can be perceived as invasive. Whenever possible, families should:
- Discuss concerns openly with facility administrators
- Limit camera view to common areas within the room
- Use signage if required under law
- Review footage only for cause, not surveillance of daily life
However, when lawfully installed and preserved, hidden camera footage can:
- Validate claims of abuse or neglect
- Pressure insurers into fair settlements
- Support punitive damage awards for willful misconduct
- Spur criminal charges and facility sanctions
- Expose systemic staffing or training failures
- Hidden Cameras and Nevada Law: What Families Need to Know
In 2023, Nevada passed Assembly Bill 202, known as Henry’s Law, allowing residents of skilled nursing facilities to install cameras in their living quarters under specific conditions. The law aims to strike a balance between transparency, dignity, and privacy.
To install a monitoring device:
- The resident or legal representative must request and consent to the camera, acknowledging limited privacy
- Roommates must also provide written consent
- Facilities cannot retaliate or discharge residents for these requests
- Residents or families cover installation and maintenance costs
- Tampering with devices is prohibited, and clear signage must be posted
These provisions currently apply only to skilled nursing facilities, although proposed legislation may extend them to assisted-living and residential care homes (KTNV 13 Investigates).
Nevada’s privacy statutes impose additional limits:
- For in-person conversations, recording is allowed with one-party consent under NRS 200.650
- For telephone or “wire” communications, all parties must consent under NRS 200.620, as reaffirmed by the Nevada Supreme Court in Sharpe v. State (2015)
- Additionally, under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, any recording that identifies a resident or reveals medical details qualifies as protected health information (PHI)
- Recordings must be securely stored, accessed only by authorized individuals, and never shared publicly
If a resident has a court-appointed guardian or power of attorney, it’s crucial to confirm that consent for video monitoring is permitted, as some guardianship orders may need court approval (State Bar of Nevada, Nevada Lawyer 2024).
Recording audio in nursing homes poses greater risks, so families often opt for video-only surveillance to comply with regulations.
Additionally, facilities cannot retaliate against families requesting monitoring. If staff tamper with cameras or recordings, families can report the incident to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services or pursue civil action.
Why This Matters in Las Vegas
With one of the fastest-growing senior populations in the nation, Las Vegas faces increasing challenges around nursing home safety and accountability. Hidden cameras—used lawfully under Nevada’s updated statutes—can provide critical evidence in cases of neglect or abuse.
At Cogburn Davidson Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, our Las Vegas team boasts over 50 years of combined experience litigating complex elder abuse cases across Nevada. We know how to:
- Authenticate and admit hidden-camera footage in compliance with state and federal law
- Preserve digital evidence with forensic precision and a verified chain of custody
- Collaborate with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and medical experts to strengthen your case
- Pursue maximum compensation through settlement or trial
For families in Nevada, lawful video monitoring can mean the difference between suspicion and proof, silence and justice. Our firm ensures every step, from installation to courtroom presentation, is handled ethically, securely, and effectively.
How Cogburn Davidson Is Helping Nevada Families Turn Hidden Footage into Justice for Nursing Home Residents
Hidden camera evidence is changing the balance of power inside Nevada’s nursing homes. What once relied on testimony alone can now be verified in real-time, revealing the truth, protecting residents, and forcing institutions to uphold the standards of care they promise.
Cogburn Davidson views every case as a fight for dignity, safety, and accountability in a system that often hides abuse behind bureaucratic complexity. Our role is to make sure your loved one’s story is seen, heard, and believed, using every lawful tool Nevada provides—from Henry’s Law protections to forensic video authentication and trial advocacy.
If you suspect mistreatment in a nursing home, don’t wait for evidence to disappear. Early legal guidance can preserve proof, stop retaliation, and secure justice. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.