Woman sues Caseyville nursing home over man's death

BELLEVILLE -- A woman has filed suit against Caseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Caseyville Property, alleging a man died because of their staff's failure to adequately treat his decubitus ulcers.

Shirley McManus claims Newton J. McManus Jr. began living at Caseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on May 8, 2008, where he developed leg ischemia, which is characterized by pain, non-healing wounds and gangrene. In addition, while at the nursing home, Newton J. McManus Jr. developed a urinary tract infection and decubitus ulcers and suffered from malnutrition and dehydration, according to the complaint filed May 4 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of his multiple conditions, Newton J. McManus Jr. died on May 31, 2008, the suit states. Before his death, though, he incurred medical costs, experienced severe and repeated pain and suffering, endured mental anguish and emotional distress and lost his dignity, the complaint says.

Shirley McManus blames staff at Caseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and its owner, Caseyville Property, for Newton J. McManus' injuries and his subsequent death, saying they performed a number of negligent acts, including failure to provide him with adequate care, failure to protect him from abuse and neglect, failure to notify his physician of significant changes in his condition, failure to institute a regular program to treat his pressure sores, failure to assure that he maintained his body weight and failure to comprehensively assess his status.

In her four-count complaint, Shirley McManus is seeking a judgment of more than $150,000, plus attorneys' fees and costs. She also names Dr. Deatrice Kellogg and Specialized Wound Management as respondents in discovery.

Staci M. Yandle and Jamie L. Bas of The Law Offices of Staci M. Yandle in O'Fallon will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-220