Maryville Manor worker claims she lost her job after whistle-blowing

A Madison County woman claims she lost her job at a nursing home after she reported her concerns of neglect to her supervisors.

Debora Hester filed a lawsuit Jan. 13 in Madison County Circuit Court against Unlimited Development doing business as Maryville Manor.

In her complaint, Hester claims she worked in Maryville Manor, which provided round-the-clock care to mentally and physically handicapped people. During her employment at the manor, Hester learned of potential neglect, according to the complaint.

The instances of neglect included employees who had allowed a resident to escape without notice. That resident later died, the suit states.

In addition, employees allegedly failed to seek help for a patient with breathing difficulties, who later died, and failed to provide appropriate care for patients, the complaint says.

After Hester reported the problems to her supervisors, she was discharged on Jan. 20, 2010.

"Debora Hester's discharge was causally related to her reports of neglect of patients at Maryville Manor and reports of covering up an investigation," the suit states.

She also claims she lost her job in retaliation for her filing of workers' compensation benefits after she was injured on the job on Jan. 5, 2009, and on Feb. 20, 2009.

In her two-count complaint, Hester seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

Michael J. Brunton and Mary M. Stewart of Brunton Law Offices in Collinsville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-57.