St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville
St. Louis University
The first days of the new year did not bode well for St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville.
St. Elizabeth's was the first to be sued in St. Clair County's Civil Law Division in 2006 by a woman claiming she fractured her shoulder while in the hospital for a knee replacement.
Seeking in excess of $50,000, Armeldia Schmeiderer claims the hospital failed to properly train medical staff members and failed to monitor her while she was a patient from Jan. 5 through Jan. 10, 2004.
Orthopedic surgeon Kevin Baumer, M.D. was also named in the suit filed Jan. 3.
Schmeiderer alleges that Baumer deviated from the acceptable standard of care by handling her in a way that caused a fracture to her right shoulder.
She also claims she suffered severe and permanent injuries that caused a permanent disability and disfigurement.
According to the suit, Schmeiderer has become obligated for medical expenses and has lost the ability to enjoy life.
She is represented by Terry Brown of Belleville. Brown claims he was unable to obtain a consultation regarding the merits of his case because the statute of limitations would impair this action.
On Jan. 4, Brown filed another suit for plaintiff Matthew West against St. Elizabeth's and co-defendant St. Louis University (SLU).
West filed the action on behalf of his wife, Justine Claise, who died on June 28, 2005, after battling a long illness.
West claims that his wife was being treated by Ken Boomgard, M.D., a member of the residency program operated by SLU from Sept. 8, 2003 through Jan. 4, 2004, at St. Elizabeth's.
He claims that during the time his wife was treated by Boomgard and other members of the residency program, she developed a carcinoma which was not treated.
According to West, Justine first became aware of the disease on Jan. 26, 2004.
He claims the hospitals failed to properly train physicians in their residency programs and failed to have competent supervisory staff to check the patients being treated by residents.
West claims his wife suffered intense pain and suffering from the time she developed the illness until her death.
He claims that he has been deprived of her support, society, guidance, companionship and happiness that his wife provided.
West also claims he became obligated for Justine's medical and funeral expenses.
West is seeking damages in excess of $200,000. As in the first case, Brown claims he was unable to obtain a consultation, even though Illinois law requires it, because of the statute of limitations was due to expire.
06 L 1 (20th Circuit)
06 L 4 (20th Circuit)