Content Reviewed by:
Steven M Levin
Content Reviewed by: Steven M Levin
Since 1976, Steve Levin has been dedicated to helping people injured by others’ negligence. He is one of the first attorneys in the U.S. to prosecute nursing homes for abuse and negligence. He’s also helped write new legislation that governs the operation of nursing homes, including the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. Moreover, Levin & Perconti has obtained the top three jury verdicts in nursing home negligence cases in Illinois.
Three Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Cases That Gained National Attention in 2019
Levin & Perconti is a nationally renowned law firm concentrating in all types of nursing home abuse and neglect claims as well as personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death lawsuits. The firm’s founding partners, Steve Levin and John Perconti were among the first nursing home lawyers in Illinois and are highly regarded among their peers and adversaries for their outstanding work on behalf of victims of abuse and neglect.
Today, the Chicago based firm stands behind three decades of winning experience in defending residents who have had their rights violated and become injured while under the care of others. This is a brief review of three nursing home abuse and neglect cases represented by Levin & Perconti lawyers that made national and local news headlines in 2019.
1. Illinois Care Staff Caught Videotaping the Bullying of a Dementia Patient
The Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at Levin & Perconti represented the family of a patient who was repeatedly harassed by two previous employees of Abington of Glenview Nursing Home in Glenview. The woman, Margaret Collins, is a 91-year-old suffering from dementia. Her nursing home abuse case gained national exposure after an upsetting video posted to the popular social media app Snapchat showed her being taunted and distressed with a hospital gown. In the video, Ms. Collins was visibly upset as she was seen attempting to swat the dress away from her caretakers. One of the aides involved in the suit recorded the incident and later posted it to Snapchat with the caption, ‘Margaret hates gowns’ alongside several laughing emojis. Thankfully, a previous Glenview worker connected to the worker’s social platform saw the post and notified the woman’s family members.
Levin & Perconti partner Margaret Battersby Black notes that it is unclear what other incidents of abuse may have taken place before the video or after the published event. This caused concern that this incident could be just one of many that happened to Ms. Collins and other Glenview residents.
WATCH: Nursing Home Aides Seen Taunting Dementia Patient | Margaret Battersby Black on Fox & Friends
2. World War II Veteran Neglected, Injured & Evicted from Evanston Nursing Home
Levin & Perconti represented World War II veteran Charles Banas and his family who sought out more than $150,000 in damages against Evanston senior living home, Westminster Place. Banas flew two heroic bombing missions in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. In 2019, the 96-year-old family man had plans to attend the 75th anniversary of the historic event with a trip to England and France and participate in commemorating ceremonies. Unfortunately, Banas was not present after being injured and falling ill due to the negligence of a facility he resided at for more than 15 years and also received nursing and rehabilitation care with.
- Westminster Place is a north suburban community located at 3200 Grant St. in downtown Evanston made up of townhomes, cottages, and apartments designed for independent living and retirement. It is one of four Chicago-area retirement communities owned by Presbyterian Homes.
- McGaw is a facility located on the Westminster Place campus and provides therapy or rehabilitation to residents after an injury or illness.
- Westminster is responsible for sickening Banas and injuring his pelvis.
- His injuries and long recovery prevented him from attending the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
- The veteran has also since been evicted from his home.
Charles Banas and his daughter, Ardel Banas, filed a suit on June 19, 2019, in Cook County Circuit Court. The three-count lawsuit charged Westminster Place and its parent company, Presbyterian Homes with negligence and violating the Nursing Home Care Act.
3. Negligence Led To 66-Year-Old’s Death in Chicago Nursing Home
Levin & Perconti filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, October 29 on behalf of the family of Jaime Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez tragically bled to death at his west suburban nursing home after receiving a kidney transplant just one month earlier. Before his unexpected and preventable death, doctors were pleased with the man’s recovery and family members were excited for Mr. Hernandez’s future after waiting nearly seven years for his new kidney.
According to the lawsuit, the care staff at Berkshire Nursing & Rehab Center LLC at the Aperion Care facility located at 8200 Roosevelt Road in Forest Park failed to perform scheduled checks on Mr. Hernandez to prevent bleeding in the arm used for his dialysis treatments. The family sought out monetary damages for 17 different care failures and negligence.
WATCH: Negligence Led To 66-Year-Old’s Death in Chicago Nursing Home | Levin & Perconti on Chicago NBC5
Holding Nursing Homes Accountable
Levin & Perconti attorneys are repeatedly named among the Best Lawyers in America® and have been selected by Leading Lawyers and Illinois Super Lawyers as some of the top personal injury, elder abuse, wrongful death, and medical malpractice lawyers in Illinois. We hope when national and local exposure is generated from our cases, the news reports will help derail events such as these from ever happening again. If not, we are happy to mention these facility and provider failures here on our blog and support the legal rights of any resident who falls victim to nursing home abuse and neglect.
Request Help from a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Today
If your loved one is a resident of a nursing home and you believe they have had their rights violated, or they were abused and neglected, please do not let it go unnoticed. Report it to nursing home officials, state regulatory bodies, and visit with a local nursing home abuse and neglect attorney to see what can be done.
The attorneys at Levin & Perconti have winning experience with nursing home abuse and neglect cases, and consultations with our legal team are both free and confidential. Please call us at (312) 332-2872.
