BELLEVILLE – Cedarhurst of Shiloh has been named in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging negligence contributed to the death of a resident.
Plaintiff Christopher Reiff, acting as administrator for the estate of Lawrence Reiff, filed a lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against SNH Lincoln Tenant, LLC, doing business as Cedarhurst of Shiloh, Elizabeth Thomas, RN and Lorie Moore, LPN, citing abuse and negligence in violation of the state's Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act.
According to the lawsuit, Lawrence Reiff was a resident at the Cedarhurst of Shiloh assisted living facility from Oct. 20, 2020, until March 16, 2021. At the time of his admission, Reiff was assessed as having severe medical conditions including dementia, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease and had a previous coronary artery bypass graft. Reiff required assistance for his daily living. The suit states that employees should have also known that he was at high risk for falls. The lawsuit states that Cedarhurst employees were responsible for providing Reiff with appropriate care and assisting him with daily living activities.
On March 16, 2020, Reiff allegedly fell and was found in his bedroom. He was transferred to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a fractures to his right eye, back, and hip. He was transferred to another hospital for surgery to mend his injuries, but Reiff died on May 18, 2020.
The suit states that Reiff died as a result of the defendants' negligence and carelessness. The plaintiff claims the defendants violated the state's Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act by negligently failing to provide sufficient care and staff to safely meet the decedent's specific personal needs. The plaintiff alleges that those actions caused Reiff to needlessly endure pain and suffering, disability, loss of normal life, disfigurement, expenses for medical care and ultimately death. Christopher Reiff claims that Lawrence Reiff's death has caused grief and sorrow to his next of kin.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 and is represented by attorney Stephen C. Buser of the Law Office of Stephen C. Buser, LTD in Columbia, IL.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 2023LA0200