CMC continued in woman's case against area nursing home

A case management conference was continued from April 25 to May 30 in a lawsuit against a Granite City nursing home.

Linda Manis is suing Granite Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Aurora Cares in Madison County Circuit Court over injuries sustained by resident Helen Norfleet.

Manis claims Norfleet was living at Granite Nursing on Dec. 1, 2009, when she sustained a fractured knee, left hip injury and kidney injury. On the same day, Norfleet was transferred to the hospital, where she was also discovered to be dehydrated, according to the complaint.

Because of her impairments, Norfleet's physical condition deteriorated, eventually leading to her death, the suit states.

Before her death, Norfleet incurred substantial medical costs, suffered great pain and mental anguish and sustained severe and permanent disability, the complaint says.

Manis blames the defendants for causing Norfleet's death, saying they negligently failed to ensure that Norfleet received proper supervision, failed to maintain her clinical records, failed to properly notify her physician when her condition began deteriorating and failed to properly care for her, among other things.

Manis seeks a judgment of more than $50,000.

The nursing home fired back in its affirmative defenses, saying the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.

Granite Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Aurora Cares LLC states Manis's alleged injuries resulted from the acts of an entity for which the defendant is not responsible.

"For further answer and defense, Granite states that if plaintiff sustained any damages or injuries, then said damages or injuries were caused or contributed by the acts of others for whose conduct Granite is not responsible," the answer states.

"Such acts or omissions on the part of others constitute an independent and intervening proximate cause of such injuries or damages."

Robert H. Gregory of the Law Office of Robert H. Gregory in East Alton will be representing her.

Stephen M. Strum and Veronica Armouti of Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard represent the defense.

Madison County Chief Circuit Judge Ann Callis is assigned to the case.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-935.