An agency that serves adults with developmental disabilities is being sued after an man in its care was found unresponsive on the ground outside one of its facilities.
Tara Wandick, as plenary guardian of Deron Hardge, filed suit Feb. 7 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Southwest Disabilities Services and Supports, Reuben Goodwin Sr. and Kimberly Goodwin.
Wandick is suing on behalf of Hardge, a disabled adult who was born in 1988.
Beginning in December 2010, the suit states that Deron was a resident at the defendant's facility at 116 E. 148th St. in Harvey. During his time there, Hardge allegedly suffered extensive and unexplained bruising, open wounds and bite marks.
On March 10, 2012, Hardge was found unresponsive on the ground outside the facility in freezing temperatures, according to the complaint. Wandick claims Hardge required hospitalization to treat pneumonia and hypothermia, along with other ailments resulting from the incident.
Rueben Goodwin Sr. and Kimberly Goodwin are named as defendants for the alleged role they played in Hardge's injuries, as well as their alleged refusal to turn over pertinent documents to Deron's lawyer.
Rueben, according to the suit, is the executive director of Southwest and Kimberly is the administrative services manager.
Wandick is seeking more than $50,000 in damages on behalf of the plaintiff and is being represented by Chicago law firm Levin & Perconti.
Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L001308.
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.