A nursing home patient is suing his former facility for allegedly transferring him to another facility for not paying his bill.
Kevin Scritchfield filed a lawsuit June 5 in Cook County Circuit Court against Berkshire Nursing and Rehab Center doing business as Aperion Care Forest Park, and Lisa Ulbert, the facility's administrator.
According to the complaint, Scritchfield, 57, was admitted on December 2014 to Berkshire Nursing until May 15, 2015. The suit says Scritchfield required nursing care after suffering a stroke in 2008 and paralysis on his left side. His legs were also amputated after an infection, the complaint says.
On May 15, allegedly due to Scritchfield not having paid his bill, Aperion informed Scritchfield that he was being transferred that day to another facility, even though he informed them that he didn't want to go and that he had an appeal pending concerning the money owed, the suit states. He was moved to a room with three other patients at Paramount of Oak Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, according to the suit.
As a result of the transfer, the lawsuit states, Scritchfield is "extremely stressed, anxious and depressed. He feels helpless, uncertain as to his future, and never wanted to be sent to Paramount. Many of his clothing and belongings are missing."
Scritchfield seeks: actual damages in the value of his lost possessions; compensatory damages of no less than $50,000; court costs; and attorney fees. He is represented by attorneys Suzanne M. Courtheoux and Jon Tabor of Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015CH08944.