A Cook County man is suing his brother’s caregivers, alleging wrongful death.
David Epstein, supervised administrator of the estate of Kevin Novak, filed a lawsuit Aug. 21 in Cook County Circuit Court against Balmoral Home Inc. doing business as Balmoral Nursing Home, Nivram Management Inc., Marvin Mermelstein, and registered nurses Esther Galang and D. Johnson.
Novak, a disabled adult, was admitted to Balmoral Nursing Home in Chicago on March 23, 2011. According to the complaint, he was given two drugs without consent from his public guardian, developed pressure ulcers and skin breakdowns, and suffered falls and injuries during his residency.
After leg surgery in June 2011, the suit says, Novak developed an infection that led to a below-the-knee leg amputation. The lawsuit alleges Novak’s condition deteriorated under Balmoral’s care, requiring multiple hospitalizations until his death Aug. 21, 2013.
Epstein seeks damages of more than $50,000. He is represented by attorneys Paul D. Richter and Caitlin K. Finnegan of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015-L008593.