Carmelite Carefree Village, Autumn Leaves of Orland Park nursing homes accused of negligence

A woman is suing over claims she was injured while a resident in several area assisted living centers.

Helen Niemiec filed a lawsuit March 18 in the Cook County Circuit Court against the Society of Mount Carmel, a not-for-profit corporation doing business as Carmelite Carefree Village, and Orland Park Memory Care LLC, doing business as Autumn Leaves of Orland Park, citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Niemiec, who had been diagnosed with dementia, was a resident of Carmelite Carefree Village between March and May 2011, during which time she suffered from numerous falls.

She claims Carmelite Carefree Village failed to provide a walker or wheelchair despite its knowledge that Niemiec was at high risk of falls.

The suit futher alleges that Niemiec was a resident at Autumn Leaves of Orland Park from November 2011 to July 3, 2013, during which time she suffered falls and injuries that led to hospitalization, as well as malnutrition and dehydration.

Niemiec is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and is being represented in the case by attorney Marc S. Weissman of the Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates P.C.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L003190.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the Cook County Circuit Court. 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.