A nurse at a Cahokia nursing center claims that while she can’t remember the details of a patient’s alleged falls, she asserts that all protocols were followed in the wrongful death action.
Betty Ball, administrator of the estate of Dianne Ball, filed the lawsuit on Sept. 29 against Cahokia Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, SW Financial Services Company and nurses Charlene Chukukere and Eddie Williams Jamison.
According to the complaint, Dianne Ball was admitted to Cahokia Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Nov. 13, 2013. She was considered to be at high risk for falls and was dependent on the health care providers to provide her with mobility assistance.
However, after experiencing three falls toward the end of her first month there, she was admitted to the ICU at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She later died on Dec. 14, 2013.
The plaintiff alleges the nursing center and its nursing staff failed to develop an up-to-date care plan based on the decedent’s needs, failed to take all necessary precautions to prevent her from falling and failed to provide her with appropriate care and services that would allow her to maintain the highest practicable level of well-being.
She also alleges SW Financial failed to ensure the nursing center was sufficiently staffed with qualified medical professionals and nurses to provide adequate care to the residents. She also alleges the defendant failed to check that all policies and procedures were being properly implemented.
Chukukere answered the complaint on Oct. 30, denying the allegations against her. She is representing herself pro se.
“Mrs. Bell fall, and all facility protocols followed. This writer cannot recall everything that happened that day. Im (sic) for sure that I did follow protocol of Cahokia Nursing of Rehab,” her handwritten answer stated.
On Dec. 7, Circuit Judge Andrew Gleeson granted the remaining defendants additional time to answer the complaint and scheduled a status conference for April 11 at 9 a.m.
Betty Ball seeks damages of more than $50,000, plus attorney’s fees and costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Paul Richter and Caitlin Finnegan of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz in Chicago.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-557