Nursing home resident claims facility, nurse failed to properly evaluate shortness of breath complaint

A woman is suing, claiming a nursing home failed to care for her properly.

Judith Mierzwinski filed a lawsuit May 20 in Cook County Circuit Court against Lexington of La Grange, Lexington Health Care Center of La Grange Inc., Royal Management Corporation, Paragon Clinical LLC and nurse Jane Ceplecha, alleging violations of the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act.

According to the complaint, Mierzwinski was a resident of the defendants' nursing home facility from June 29, 2012 until to July 11, 2012. She alleges she complained on July 9, 2012 about having shortness of breath and was later examined by Ceplecha.

Following the evaluation on the evening of July 10, 2012, Mierzwinski contends her shortness of breath caused her to fall and injure herself.

She accuses the defendants of failing to advise her physicians about her complaint and not properly evaluating her condition.

Mierzwinski is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and is represented by attorney John M. Saletta of the Law Offices of John M. Saletta PC.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L005373.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in 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 represents only one side of the story.