EDWARDSVILLE – A lawsuit has been filed against the River Crossing nursing home, claiming its employees placed trays of food in front of a patient unable to feed himself for hours at a time.
Plaintiff Danielle Combs, on behalf of her father Guy Combs, filed the lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Edwardsville NH, LLC doing business as River Crossing of Edwardsville, citing negligence, willful and wanton conduct and intentional infliction of emotional distress in violation of the Illinois Nursing Home Act.
According to the lawsuit, Guy Combs was admitted as a resident and patient at the River Crossing nursing home on Dec. 7, 2022. At the time of his admission, Combs was known to have a history of acute kidney injury, stroke, dysphagia and dysarthria. The suit states that the defendant also knew that a stroke left Combs unable to use his arms and hands, meaning he would need assistance to eat.
Despite these conditions, the lawsuit states that Combs was neglected by River Crossing employees who failed to properly feed him. Nursing home staff allegedly placed trays of food in his room even though he was unable to use his arms to eat the food. According to the plaintiff, it was especially cruel to place food in front of a hungry patient who could not feed himself.
The plaintiff states that during his time at River Crossing, Combs lost a considerable amount of weight. She adds that employees would leave him in his bed for hours in soiled diapers and bed linens which caused him to form festering bed sores.
The lawsuit states that the defendant negligently failed to provide Combs with proper care and failed to provide an adequate number of properly trained and qualified personnel to attend to his needs.
The lawsuit states that as Combs was admitted into the defendant's care, he was a protected individual under the state's Nursing Home Care Act.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus interest, court costs, attorney's fees and any other relief the court deems proper. They are represented in this case by the attorneys of Wendler and Zinzilieta, P.C. in Maryville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 2023LA000242