Hillcrest nursing home sued
By Bob Okon bokon@stmedianetwork.com March 2, 2013 8:34PM
National Nursing Home Week and Bear Magic at Hillcrest Nursing Center in Round Lake Beach.
Updated: April 4, 2013 6:41AM
The family of a man whose leg had to be amputated is suing the Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for negligence.
The Joliet nursing home already is in a legal battle with the state to keep its license.
The family of John Eric Rush, 49, of North Aurora contends that he developed an infected bed sore while at Hillcrest and his left leg had to be amputated above the knee, according to a written statement announcing the lawsuit on Friday. He was transferred to Hillcrest from an Aurora nursing home in 2010.
The statement quotes Rush’s sister-in-law, Andrea Kroesen, saying that Rush lost his mobility because of the amputation.
“John was paralyzed on the right side of his body,” Kroesen said. “When he had to have an amputation it was his left leg — his only means of any mobility and independence.”
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Cook County by the Chicago law firm Levin & Perconti.
The firm is handling another lawsuit filed a year ago against Hillcrest on behalf of a man who was burned by another resident. The same resident was alleged to have attacked other people under the care of Hillcrest.
The Illinois Department of Public Health filed a notice for license revocation against Hillcrest in April. Hillcrest contested the revocation, and the matter is next up for a hearing May 15.
