A woman’s estate is suing a nursing home on charges of wrongful death in her 2014 passing while under the defendants’ care.
Laura Hopkins, as special administrator of the estate of Carmen Manrique, sued Alden-Valley Ridge Rehabilitation and Health Care Center Inc. and Alden Valley Ridge on July 29 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging negligence in incidents leading up to the plaintiff’s August 2014 death.
The suit states that Carmen Manrique was first admitted to the facility on or about Feb. 8, 2014, due to cognitive decline and the need for supervision. According to the complaint, she was at high risk for falls and pressure ulcers.
The lawsuit states that Manrique was left unattended on or about April 30, 2014, when she attempted to open a lobby door. The complaint states that when the automatic door suddenly opened and pushed her backwards, she fell and broke her left hip.
According to the grievance, Manrique was re-admitted to Alden Valley Ridge following surgery on or about May 13 and fell in her room while attempting to transfer to her wheelchair on or about May 18, 2014; and staff subsequently reported a stage III sacral pressure ulcer on or about May 21 and a stage II pressure ulcer on her heel on or about June 7.
Subsequently, the suit states, the patient’s bedsores had progressed to more serious stages by July 4; and she died on Aug. 14, 2014.
Hopkins blames the facility for failure to exercise ordinary care for the plaintiff’s safety and health between Feb. 8 and Aug. 14, 2014. The lawsuit charges the defendant with failure to properly assess, supervise, monitor and assist Manrique, provide a hazard-free environment, take preventative measures to avoid and adequately treat the patient for bedsores.
The plaintiff demands judgment more than $50,000, plus attorneys’ fees and costs. She is represented by Michael Mertz and Brian Holmes of Hurley McKenna & Mertz in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L007695.