In a gripping legal battle that highlights the critical importance of timely medical intervention, Banita Bevineau has filed a lawsuit against Amita Health Saint Francis Hospital Evanston and several associated medical professionals. The complaint, filed on April 17, 2025, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, accuses the hospital and its staff of medical negligence that allegedly led to Bevineau's right below-knee amputation.
Banita Bevineau's attorneys from Ori Law Group, LLC have laid out a detailed narrative of events leading up to her severe injury. On April 20, 2023, Bevineau was admitted to Amita Health Saint Francis Hospital with symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hyperkalemia. Over the following days, her condition deteriorated significantly due to what she claims was inadequate and delayed medical care. The lawsuit names several defendants: Dr. Michael Prendergast, Dr. Hanna Meidl, Dr. Valiko Begiashvili, Dr. Judy Joseph, and Nurse Jacob Coggeshall—all accused of failing to meet standard care protocols.
The complaint details a series of alleged missteps by the hospital staff between April 20 and May 24, 2023. It claims that despite signs of deteriorating health—such as absent dorsiflexion and plantarflexion in her right leg—the necessary vascular surgery consultations were delayed until it was too late to save her limb. The lawsuit asserts that this delay resulted in the eventual amputation performed at Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in Arizona on June 8, 2023.
Bevineau's case rests on accusations that include delaying initiation of care and treatment on April 26, failing to notify ICU physicians about sudden changes in her condition promptly, delaying consultation with vascular surgery experts, and failing to perform necessary thrombectomies timely. These failures allegedly led to irreversible damage necessitating amputation—a devastating outcome for Bevineau both physically and financially.
The plaintiff seeks judgment against the defendants for an amount exceeding $50,000 per count as fair compensation for her suffering and financial losses due to extensive medical bills and diminished future earning capacity. Her legal team argues that had the hospital met its duty of care obligations, such drastic measures could have been avoided.
Representing Banita Bevineau is attorney Kristen E. Ori from Ori Law Group LLC based in Chicago. The case is being overseen by Judge Mariyana T. Spyropoulos under Case ID: 2025L005221.