Swansea Rehab center sued over resident's trip on protruding stone

A woman blames her relative’s fractured kneecap on a rehabilitation center where a protruding rock caused her to fall.

Beth Ann Solomon as administrator of the estate of Beverly G. Reavis filed a lawsuit May 15 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Petersen Health Care II doing business as Swansea Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

In her complaint, Solomon alleges Reavis was living at Swansea Rehabilitation and Health Care Center at 1405 North Second Street in Swansea on Oct. 2, 2011. While strolling among the grounds, Reavis tripped over a protruding stone on a sidewalk and fell forward, landing on her knees, according to the complaint.

Because of her fall, in addition to her fractured kneecap, Reavis incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Solomon blames Swansea Rehabilitation and Health Care Center for causing Reavis’s injuries, saying it negligently kept the stone in a position that created a hazard, failed to alter the stone to prevent a tripping hazard and failed to provide sufficient nursing care following a fall.

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

Stephen R. Clark of Courtney, Clark and Mejias in Belleville will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-255.