Rosewood Care Center employee claims wrongful termination

A woman has filed suit against her former nursing home employer, alleging it wrongfully terminated her after she applied for workers' compensation benefits.

Connie Nunley claims she was working for defendant Rosewood Care Center of Swansea on Oct. 31, 2005, Jan. 19, 2006, and Aug. 15, 2008, when she sustained injuries to her left hand.

Following the injuries, Nunley applied for workers' compensation benefits, including treatment by a medical care provider of her choice, temporary total disability benefits and permanent partial disability benefits, according to the complaint filed Aug. 23 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

On June 24, 2009, Rosewood fired Nunley, the suit states.

"The aforesaid job termination and discharge by Defendant was wrongful and in retaliation for the exercise of her legal rights pursuant to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act in violation of the policy expressed in Section 4 of said Act," the complaint says.
Because of her termination, Nunley claims she has been deprived of her employment, has lost income and benefits, has suffered injury to her reputation and has suffered mental anguish.

In her two-count complaint, Nunley is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000 and more than $50,000 in punitive damages, plus costs.
She will be represented by Kevin Boyne of Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-432.