Riverside Medical Center named in wrongful death lawsuit

Stephen M. Schiel, as special administrator of the Estate of Jodi Schiel, filed suit Nov. 8 in the Cook County Circuit Court on Nov. 8 against Riverside Medical Center, Dr. Anthony Bekkerman and Dr. Renee Peksa.

According to the complaint, Jodi Schiel was taken by ambulance to the Riverside emergency room on Aug. 22, 2012, when she allegedly told the examining doctor she had a history of right ankle and foot pain with swelling and had a fever start the previous night.

Schiel claims the defendants diagnosed Jodi with planter fasciitis, prescribed an anti-inflammatory and then discharged her. The suit asserts Riverside never did any blood work on Jodi.

The suit further states that on Aug. 24, 2012, Jodi was taken by ambulance to St. Mary's emergency room in Kankakee, where she arrived in a state of cardio-pulminary and/or septic shock.

According to the complaint, Jodi complained of a fever and pain and swelling in her leg. Schiel claims that Jodi died a few hours later. Schiel is now suing on behalf of Jodi, accusing Riverside of failing to diagnose and treat her blood infection.

He is seeking more than $100,000 in damages. He is being represented by Waukegan attorney Scott B. Gibson.

Circuit Court of Cook County Case No. 2013L012357.

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.