Couple blames Manhattan Medical Clinic for man's facial paralysis

A Will County man is suing over claims he suffered permanent paralysis on the left side of his face following a strep throat diagnosis.

Timothy O'Neil Sr. and Maureen O'Neil filed a medical malpractice lawsuit June 13 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Dr. Vlad G. Badescu, Manhattan Medical Clinic LLC and physician's assistant Brandon Seef.

The suit names Dr. Ilah Marie Heller-Bair as a respondent in discovery.

According to the complaint, Badescu diagnnosed Timothy with strep throat on June 13, 2012 at Badescu at Manhattan Medical Clinic, and prescribed him an antibiotic.

The O'Neils claim Timothy was taken to Silver Cross Medical Center on June 15 after having difficulty swallowing and Seef on June 18 documented facial droop.

The suit accuses the defendants of failing to timely diagnose and treat Timothy, who suffered brain stem ischemia and a bilateral brainstem stroke, which caused permanent paralysis on his left side.

The O'Neils are seeking more than $50,000 in damages and are being represented in the case by attorney Don M. Sowers of Motherway & Napleton LLP in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L006343.

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.