Man sues behavioral center after having fingers amputated, claims he was forced into homelessness

Alden Harris filed suit Dec. 6 in the Cook County Circuit Court on Dec. 6 against Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center Inc.

According to the complaint, Harris was a patient of the center, which was supposed to look after and provide him with a secure residence, among other things, and was compensated for its work by Harris' disability benefits.

Harris claims in December 2012, the center assigned him to a facility at 1439 N. Lotus Ave. in Chicago, where he stayed until he was instructed he needed to return his key and vacate the facility.

The suit alleges that the center did not help Harris after he left the facility, leaving him rendered homeless. Harris claims he slept in a Chicago park for six days before he was taken by ambulance to Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Harris asserts that he suffered frostbite and gangrene to both hands during his time in the park. As a result, Harris contends he had to be hospitalized and had multiple fingers amputated.

Harris is suing the center for failing to provide him with adequate living facilities which he says amounts to negligence. He is seeking more than $50,000 and is represented by attorney Lee S. Schneider.

Circuit Court of Cook County Case No. 2013L013851.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.