St. Clair County Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf scheduled a status conference for a lawsuit alleging a nursing home resident who suffered several recurring cases of pneumonia was not adequately cared for.
The status conference is set for Feb. 15 at 9 a.m.
Jessica Green, as independent administrator of the estate of Jesse Rucker, filed the complaint in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Helia Healthcare of Belleville LLC, Bridgemark Healthcare LLC, Jacqueline Swygeart, LPN, and Jamie Brink, LPN.
According to the complaint, Rucker was a resident at the long-term care facility known as Helia Healthcare of Belleville, or Willowcreek Rehab, from Sept. 18, 2019, to May 29, 2020. During that time, Rucker was admitted to the hospital 15 times. When he became a resident at the defendant's facility in September, Rucker had a trach for breathing and a PEG tube for nutrition.
The suit states that Rucker had problems with “thick, copious secretions and recurring pneumonias.” He was hospitalized several times during his time under the defendants’ care due to pneumonia, vomiting, sepsis, and other medical conditions.
In April 2020, Rucker developed tachycardia with associated hypoxia and hypotension. He was hospitalized a few days later with multifocal pneumonia.
Then on May 10, 2020, Rucker required 10L of oxygen and was tachycardic. However, the suit states that he was not hospitalized until later that evening. He suffered a cardiac and respiratory arrest but was successfully resuscitated by EMS and transferred to the hospital.
Rucker had a severe desaturation episode and suffered respiratory arrest again on May 29, 2020, which he did not survive.
The cause of death was listed as acute and chronic respiratory failure and sepsis.
Green alleges the defendants failed to ensure the health and safety of Rucker at the nursing facility, failed to update the care plan to treat and prevent wounds, failed to provide routine wound assessments and treatment, failed to update the care plan for recurring pneumonia, failed to implement appropriate interventions to manage pulmonary conditions, failed to re-evaluate whether he should be transferred to a facility capable of handling his pulmonary conditions, failed to recognize severe neutropenia, failed to recognize a significant change in Rucker’s condition, and failed to monitor and treat the decedent’s condition.
Green seeks a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus court costs and attorney’s fees. He is represented by Eva Golabek of Kralovec Jambois & Schwartz in Chicago.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 21-L-780