Midwest Rehabilitation and Respiratory Center blamed for wrongful death

Midwest Rehabilitation and Respiratory Center is being sued after a long-term patient died.

Ricky Falkenhein, as administrator of the Estate of Lesley Ann Falkenhein, filed a lawsuit June 11 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Midwest Rehabilitation and Respiratory Center LLC, doing business as Midwest Rehabilitation and Respiratory Center, and Senior Healthcare Management LLC, citing negligence and wrongful death.

Ricky Falkenhein claims Lesley Ann was a resident of the defendant intermittently from Oct. 25, 2010, through Aug. 21, 2012, after suffering a stroke in September 2010. The suit alleges that on June 11, 2012, Lesley Ann had a fever and was vomiting as a result of cellulitis and a necrotizing soft tissue infection of her right breast. According to the complaint, Lesley Ann's physician wasn't informed of her condition until June 14, 2012, resulting in her developing sepsis and admission to the hospital. The suit alleges that after Lesley Ann returned to the defendant's facility it failed to properly care for her, resulting in pressure ulcers on her hand, thigh, toes, arms, buttocks and groin and multiple urinary tract infections.

The complaint states that Lesley Ann was found to be severely dehydrated and in acute renal failure, with sepsis and a urinary tract infection on Aug. 21, 2012. The suit alleges that Lesley Ann died Sept. 17, 2012, as a result of respiratory failure due to a flesh-eating bacteria.

Ricky Falkenhein is seeking damages in excess of the jurisdictional requisite. He is being represented by Chicago attorney Paul D. Richter of Kralovec, Jambois and Schwartz.

St. Clair Circuit Court case number 14-L-495.