BELLEVILLE — A Belleville long term care facility is accused of neglect and improper care that allegedly led to a woman's death.
Thelma Wooters, as independent executor of the Estate of Tawatha Huffman, filed a complaint Oct. 27 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Helia Healthcare of Belleville LLC, doing business as Willowcreek Rehab and Nursing, and Bridgemark Healthcare LLC, alleging wrongful death.
According to the complaint, Tawatha Huffman was a resident at Willowcreek from March 14, 2018, through Oct. 13, 2018, and from Nov. 11, 2018, to Dec. 17, 2018, according to the complaint.
The plaintiff alleges that Huffman had a past medical history of a spinal cord abscess, quadriplegia, pancreatitis, respiratory failure, hepatitis, septic PE and other issues. The plaintiff further alleges that Huffman, who was also at high risk for "skin breakdown," developed two new wounds on her feet in June 2018, which the nursing staff failed to document.
Wooters claims the Willowcreek staff also failed to perform wound care between Aug. 16, 2018, and Dec. 6, 2016. She also claims Huffman suffered from pneumonia in October of 2018, suffered a cardiac arrest in November of 2018 and a wound infection in December of 2018. The plaintiff claims Huffman's death on Dec. 17, 2018 was due to septic shock, seizure disorder, pneumonia and other medical issues she suffered due to lack of proper care.
The plaintiff seeks monetary and all other just relief. She is represented by Eva Golabek of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz in Chicago.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 20-L-0838