EDWARDSVILLE –The Cedarhurst of Godfrey living center and Alton Memorial Hospital have been named in a wrongful death lawsuit after a resident allegedly fell and suffered from infected wounds prior to her death.
Plaintiff Paula K. Martz, acting as special representative of the estate of Ruth M. Galinot, filed a lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against TSH Operations - Godfrey, LLC, doing business as Cedarhurst of Godfrey, and Alton Memorial Hospital, doing business as Alton Memorial Rehabilitation & Therapy, formerly known as Eunice Smith Home, citing negligence and carelessness in violation of the Illinois Nursing Home Act.
According to the lawsuit, Galinot entered the care of Cedarhurst on July 17, 2020, When she was admitted, the facility allegedly assessed her as having a high risk for falls. Despite this assessment, Galinot allegedly suffered a fall the next day, suffering a broken hip and femur. She was transferred to Alton Memorial Hospital (AMH) Rehab for rehabilitation and other care on July 27, 2020. Galinot then developed a wound on her opposite leg, which became infected, and she was transferred back to AMH. Galinot ultimately died of her injuries on Aug. 2, 2020. Her causes of death were determined to be septic shock and complications from her hip fracture and fall.
According to the lawsuit, the nursing staff at Cedarhurst had not performed their required duties to properly safeguard her from falling down and AMH had not performed their required duties to properly safeguard her from developing an infection. As Galinot was admitted into their care, she was a protected individual under the state's Nursing Home Act.
The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $50,000 and is represented in this case by attorneys Craig J. Jensen and Brian W. Burge of Meyer Jensen, P.C. in Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 22LA000912