CHICAGO — A Cook County woman is suing Southpoint Nursing & Rehab, claiming that negligent wound care contributed to her grandmother’s death.
Lacey Smith, independent administrator of the estate of Zora Smith, filed a lawsuit Feb. 1 in Cook County Circuit Court against Southpoint Nursing & Rehabilitation Center LLC, Infinity Healthcare Management of Illinois LLC, and licensed practical nurses Nicole J. Holcomb and Donna Hawkins, alleging negligence under the Nursing Home Care Act and wrongful death.
According to the complaint, Zora Smith resided at Southpoint intermittently from Jan. 31 through July 9, 2014. While under the defendants’ care, Smith allegedly developed a right heel wound that advanced to a Stage III-IV pressure ulcer requiring two hospitalizations. During the last hospital stay, Smith underwent a right leg amputation from the knee down, the suit says, and died July 29, 2014. The plaintiff claims that the defendants’ negligence and inadequate care allowed the wounds to develop and worsen.
Lacey Smith seeks damages in excess of $50,000. She is represented by attorneys Paul D. Richter and Caitlin K. Finnegan of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2016-L001082