BELLEVILLE — A Belleville healthcare and rehab facility is facing a wrongful death claim after a patient allegedly suffered a fatal traumatic brain injury when she fell out of her wheelchair.
Lucille Gibbs, independent administrator of the Estate of Joyce Riley, filed a complaint Dec. 3 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Belleville Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center Inc., doing business as BRIA Health Services of Belleville. alleging negligence and wrongful death.
According to Gibbs' complaint, Joyce Riley was admitted to BRIA's facility in Belleville on Nov. 2, 2018, and was assessed as a patient with a "high risk for falls." Gibbs alleges that on Dec. 16, 2018, Riley fell out of her wheelchair while being left unattended in her room and had to be transferred to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in O'Fallon. She was treated for traumatic brain injury, including a subdural hematoma, and then transferred to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for additional treatment.
Gibbs alleges Riley's fall resulted in serious injuries that lead to her death on Jan. 11, 2019.
The plaintiff claims BRIA neglected Riley and is negligent by failing to prevent Riley from falling from her wheelchair, failing to properly assess Riley's fall risk and failing to have enough staffing and staff supervision.
Gibbs seeks compensation of more than $50,000 and all other just relief. She is represented by Stephen Buser of The Law Office of Stephen C. Buser LTD in Columbia.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 20-L-0958