BLC LEXINGTON SNF, LLC; BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES, INC.; BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING INC.; AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION, v. BONNIE TOWNSEND, Executrix of the Estate of Linda Elam - Articles

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BLC LEXINGTON SNF, LLC; BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES, INC.; BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING INC.; AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION, v. BONNIE TOWNSEND, Executrix of the Estate of Linda Elam

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Mar 26, 2026

Court: 6th Circuit Court (Published Opinions)

Attorneys 1: ON BRIEF: D. Todd Varellas, Sandra M. Varellas, VARELLAS & VARELLAS, Lexington, Kentucky, for Appellant.

Attorneys 2: ON BRIEF: Kif H. Skidmore, Connor B. Egan, STOLL KEENON OGDEN PLLC, Lexington, Kentucky, for Appellees.

Judge(s): BATCHELDER, THAPAR, and MATHIS, Circuit Judges

Court Appealed: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky at Lexington

MATHIS, Circuit Judge. Linda Elam resided at a nursing home in Lexington, Kentucky, in the weeks leading up to her death. Shortly before she died, Elam was diagnosed with several serious illnesses. Bonnie Townsend, Elam’s sister and estate executor, sued BLC Lexington SNF, LLC, Brookdale Senior Living Communities, Inc., Brookdale Senior Living Inc., and American Retirement Corporation (collectively, “BLC Lexington”) in Kentucky state court, bringing claims related to Elam’s care and death. BLC Lexington then filed a complaint in federal court, asking the district court to enjoin the state-court proceedings and compel Townsend to arbitrate her claims. The district court found the parties’ arbitration agreement enforceable and compelled arbitration for nearly all of Townsend’s claims. After a week-long arbitration, the arbitrator ruled in BLC Lexington’s favor on all claims. The district court confirmed the arbitration award. Because we agree with the district court’s decisions compelling arbitration and confirming the arbitration award, we affirm.

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