Collinsville Rehab & Health Care accused of negligence

A Collinsville nursing home is accused of neglecting an elderly resident and, ultimately, causing her death.

Yvette Lawrence, on behalf of the estate of Toni R. Smith, filed a lawsuit July 27 in Madison County Circuit Court against Petersen Health Enterprises LLC, doing business as Collinsville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center. Mark B. Petersen is also named as a defendant.

According to the complaint, Smith became a resident of Collinsville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in December 2008. In August 2009, the woman was allegedly found unresponsive in her room. Lawrence claims the staff of nursing home allowed Smith's blood sugar to drop to dangerously-low levels, causing the resident to develop hypoglycemia.

Lawrence says Smith was taken to Anderson Hospital in Maryville where she underwent various medical procedures aimed at reviving her. However, she says Lawrence remained in a vegetative state and died several weeks later at Calvin Johnson Care Center in Belleville.

Lawrence accuses Petersen Health Enterprises and Collinsville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center of negligence and of allegedly violating Illinois' Nursing Home Care Act. She seeks a judgment of more than $250,000 in damages plus court costs.

Attorney Stephen C. Buser of Columbia is representing Lawrence. They ask for a jury trial.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-729.