Nursing home sued in St. Clair County Court

Rutha Lawrence, special administrator of the estate of Mandy Lawrence Conner, filed suit against O'Fallon Healthcare Inc. claiming Conner developed decubitus ulcers while a resident of the long term care facility.

The complaint, filed May 8 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, claims Conner's ulcers developed June 3, 2004, on both hips and thereafter worsened.

"Consequently, she suffered a marked deterioration of her prior physical condition," the complaint states.

"By reason of her injuries, she became liable for large sums of money for nursing care and attention, physician, hospital and other bills in and about endeavoring to become healed and cured of her injuries. She suffered great pain and anguish as a result of said injuries."

Lawrence, represented by attorney Robert H. Gregory of East Alton, is seeking at least $100,000 in damages. She claims O'Fallon Healthcare failed to notify the Conner's physician regarding the significant deterioration of her health and violated the Nursing Home Care Act.

"Defendant...owed a duty to Mandy Lawrence Conner to exercise ordinary care so as not to cause her injury, but that in spite of said duty, the defendant, by and through its agent, servants and employees, was then and there guilty...," the complaint states.

Lawrence also claims O'Fallon Healthcare failed to notify family members about her deteriorating condition, failed to care for her in a dignified manner and failed to employ sufficient staff, among other allegations of negligence.