BELLEVILLE – A man is suing Four Fountains Convalescent Center for negligence and violation of the Nursing Home Care Act following a patient's death.
Albert Prater, as independent administrator of the estate of Juanita Prater, filed the suit Feb. 4 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Helia Southbelt Healthcare LLC, doing business as Four Fountains Convalescent Center; Bridgemark Healthcare LLC; Crystal Dawn Ransom LPN; Cheryl L. Day LPN and T. Rogers LPN.
According to the complaint, Juanita Prater was a resident of Four Fountains from March 6, 2012 to Feb. 25, 2013. Upon her admission there, she was assessed as a medium risk for falls. However, between April 20, 2012 and Feb. 16, 2013, it was noted by the nursing staff that she had fallen at least six times, the suit states.
Nine days later, the decedent complained of pain to her right hip and was transferred to Memorial Hospital where she underwent surgery to repair a hip fracture.
She died Feb. 6, 2014.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants were negligent in failing to develop an up-to-date plan for the resident, failing to protect the resident from abuse or neglect, failing to provide adequate supervision and assistance and failing to recognize injury to her hip, which allegedly contributed to her death.
The plaintiff seeks a judgment of more than $50,000. He is represented by Paul D. Richter and Caitlin K. Finnegan of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz in Chicago.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 16-L-67