Family sues Chicago nursing home after man chokes on brat, dies

The family of a Cook County man who died after chocking on a piece of a bratwurst is suing a nursing home it contends failed to supervise him eating and implement a proper dietary plan.

Sheila Tolbert, as independent administrator of the Estate of William Tolbert, filed suit Aug. 8 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Chevy Chase Corp., doing business as Bronzeville Park Skilled Nursing and Living Center, alleging violations of the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act.

According to the complaint, William was a resident at Bronzeville nursing home, located on South Indiana Avenue in Chicago, on July 25, 2013, when he was discovered with agonal breathing and no pulse.

Tolbert claims William was taken to Mercy Hospital & Medical Center, where it was discovered his cardiopulmonary arrest was caused by a large piece of bratwurst blocking his airway.

William, the suit states, died Aug. 4, 2013 of anoxic encephalopathy secondary to aspiration. Tolbert accuses the defendant of failing to supervise William as he ate, implement a proper dietary plan, call for assistance, perform choking assistance or properly train its employees.

She is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and is being represented in the case by attorney Kevin J. Golden of Dudley & Lake LLC in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L008349.

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.