The bankruptcy of The Buckingham in Houston allowed it to avoid paying back nearly $150 million in entrance fees — even after it was purchased by a private equity firm.

NBC News relayed Scales’ and other families’ criticism to two representatives of TheBuckingham. One was Michael Wyse, chairman of The Buckingham’s board since 2019 andmanaging director of The Wyse Group, an advisory and investment firm in New Jersey. The other,Darren Azman, is a partner at the law firm McDermott Will & Schulte representing the companyin its bankruptcy proceedings. Neither responded.

Focus Healthcare Partners, the firm that bought The Buckingham, is changing it into a rentalcommunity called Laural Parke Senior Living.

To help offset the $144 million in lost entrance fees, Focus has offered a total of $12.7 million inrebates that residents who stay on at the facility for up to two years can share. But families ofresidents who have died or moved out will receive almost nothing.

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