BELLEVILLE — A patient claims she was injured while being transported to get her COVID-19 vaccine.
Lebanon HCO LLC, which is doing business as Lebanon Care Center; Petersen Health Care Management; Christine Davis; and Cheryl Doe were all named as defendants in the suit.
Georgina R. Francis, as attorney-in-fact for Gloria J. Francis, claims Gloria Francis was a resident of Lebanon Care Center from Aug. 12, 2022, until Nov. 15, 2022, and was at high risk for falls, according to a complaint filed in St. Claire Circuit Court.
Georgina Francis claims Gloria Francis was wheelchair-bound and was at risk for falls if she wasn't properly secured.
Gloria Francis was being transported to get a COVID-19 booster on Nov. 15, 2022. She claims the defendants did not properly belt her in her wheelchair, which was allegedly not secured and anchored to the floor of the facility's handicapped-accessible van.
Georgina Francis claims Doe was driving the van in Swansea, Ill., when Doe applied the brakes and Gloria Francis fell forward out of her wheelchair and struck her head on the interior of the vehicle. Gloria Francis sustained several fractures, a laceration and a subdermal hematoma because of the fall.
The defendants failed to protect Gloria Francis and failed to complete fall reports for the incident, according to the suit.
Georgina Francis is seeking judgment in excess of $50,000. She is represented by Andrew J. Thut and Nicholas J. Emerson of Levin & Perconti in Chicago.
St. Claire Circuit Court case number: 23-LA-1025