* The Quinn campaign claims it has uncovered “seven new wrongful death cases” involving Bruce Rauner’s former nursing home chain and “scores more settlements than previously known.” I’ve added links to supporting documentation…
The extent of negligence and wrongful death settlements from a chain of nursing homes controlled by Bruce Rauner is more extensive than previously was known.
Seven new wrongful death cases, in Ohio and New Mexico, were revealed Wednesday, even as more than $1 billion in judgments resulting from six deaths at Rauner’s Trans Healthcare Inc. (THI) face an ongoing bankruptcy trial in Florida. GTCRauner is a named defendant in the lawsuit.
The new cases add to a disturbing picture of neglect, abuse and substandard care at facilities managed by Rauner’s nursing home company.
See the attached court records for the case files and new information. A summary of the deaths at THI facilities under Rauner’s leadership appears below.
The new revelations were discussed Wednesday on a conference call with reporters by nursing home advocate and medical malpractice attorney Steven M. Levin, senior partner at Levin & Perconti.
“We now know of at least seven more individuals who perished as the result of poor care they received from nursing homes controlled by Bruce Rauner. Rauner calls any discussion of his involvement in his company a ‘distraction.’ I call it a pattern,” said Levin, a leading advocate nationally against nursing home abuse.
Levin noted that the seven new cases did not represent the full record of negligence at THI.
“Bruce Rauner has avoided questions about his conduct and involvement with THI. Given what little we know, it’s easy to see why,” Levin said.
New cases:
Name: Agnes Corbi
THI facility: McCrea Manor Nursing Home, Stark County, Ohio.
Date of death: March 5, 2001
The Story: Admitted Jan. 1, 2001, Corbi was at risk of falls. She was improperly supervised and suffered injuries related to a fall March 1, 2001. She died four days later. The complaint alleged unsafe and unclean conditions contributed.
Date of settlement: July 17, 2002
[Click here for more]
Name: Donna Arviso
THI facility: Albuquerque Care Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date of death: September 1, 2005
The Story: The behavior of her caretakers was described as “willful, wanton and in reckless disregard” for her well-being. This included improper staffing and days of bleeding without proper care, which caused her death.
Date of settlement: July 21, 2010
[Click here for more]
Name: Cuong Koc
THI facility: Valle Norte Caring Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date of death: September 20, 2006
The Story: According to the complaint, as the result of negligence, poor training and understaffing at the facility, Koc suffered injuries which left him in a “near-fetal” position, choking on food, suffering from massive dehydration and ultimately leading to his death.
Date of settlement: October 3, 2007
[Click here for more]
Name: Jeffery Long
THI facility: Autumn Court Nursing Home
Date of death: April 11, 2003
The Story: According to court documents, he suffered severe injuries and the care provided to him was negligent leading to his ultimate death.
Date of settlement: June 26, 2006
[Click here for more]
Name: John Heafey Howard, Jr.
THI facility: Greenbriar Healthcare Center, Boardman, Ohio
Date of death: January 2, 2008
The Story: Howard was an elderly man suffering from early Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension, depression and hypothyroidism. He suffered negligent care that led to significant weight loss (from 178 pounds to 132 pounds in two months), pressure ulcers, malnourishment, dehydration and shock. He died as a result.
Date of settlement: November 1, 2010
[Click here for more]
Name: Kimberly Bonnett Carter Hayes
THI facility: Greenbriar Healthcare Center, Boardman, Ohio
Date of death: August 7, 2006
The Story: Hayes went in for long-term care and rehabilitation. Instead, her caretakers withheld medication, failed to treat infections, failed to change her catheter for at least two months, failed to treat her psoriasis and failed to keep her skin clean. Her death certificate lists cause of death as septic shock and renal failure.
Date of settlement: February 21, 2008
[Click here for more]
Name: Mary Ruth Williams
THI facility: Valle Norte Caring Center Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date of death: September 4, 2004
The Story: Despite being a documented fall risk at the time of her admission, she suffered from multiple preventable falls resulting in fractures and eventually death.
Date of settlement: August 17, 2006
[Click here for more]
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:32 am:
How much of this stuff was found and made public by Rauner’s opponents in GOP primary?
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:33 am:
Great.
Now we’re going to see a new list of those IDOT folks illegally hired again.
Uh - spare us both of you!
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:35 am:
@Vman,
Yeah, because it’s about the same thing. One may have hired someone they knew for a job at IDOT. The other deliberatly witheld funding and resources so that elderly patients died from either injury or abuse or neglect.
That’s a good strategy for GTCRauner to pursue.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:37 am:
Well, it’s not as if state government has anything to do with nursing homes, so what’s the worst that could happen if Rauner gets elected?
Oh wait. Nevermind.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:38 am:
Oh great.
Now we’re going to see another list of all the people who committed crimes while out on early parole, thanks to Quinn.
Uh - spare us - both of you!
- Amalia - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:40 am:
good tactic from Quinn, having this to release after another IDOC release by Rauner. some prisoners will commit crimes again, that is not in the control of Quinn once they get out. but an elderly person in your care who is mistreated? shameful to treat these fragile persons poorly.
- Snucka - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:41 am:
=Great.
Now we’re going to see a new list of those IDOT folks illegally hired again.=
If take that trade-off, were I running the Quinn campaign.
- William j Kelly - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:41 am:
Not only is rauner toast but anyone who still supports rauner can kiss any hope of a political future aaaaaaaaway.
- Snucka - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:41 am:
=Great.
Now we’re going to see a new list of those IDOT folks illegally hired again.=
I’d take that trade-off, were I running the Quinn campaign.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:42 am:
Rauner is going to throw crime victims and illegal hires at Quinn, and Quinn will respond by throwing elderly nursing home deaths at Rauner.
Quinn is needing to answer for his NRI, so Quinn is demanding answers from Rauner on GTCR.
Rauner proposes unicorns and rainbows with a property tax freeze, so Quinn counters promising unicorns and rainbows with a minimum wage increase.
- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:43 am:
Remember “death panels”? Looks like GCTR brought them to the private sector.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:44 am:
Merge photos and names with Rauner’s “I’ve been a success at everything I’ve done” — and you’ve got a killer commercial.
Wouldn’t have to say much, either. Rauner’s said it all — including the “It’s a distraction” line.
- Nonplussed - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:45 am:
“Rauner proposes unicorns and rainbows with a property tax freeze, so Quinn counters promising unicorns and rainbows with a minimum wage increase.”
VanillaMan: The only difference is that we are actually going to get a minimum wage increase
- Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:50 am:
Raunervich water torture: drip, patient death; drip, new patient death; drip, another patient death; etc
- Peoria guy - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:51 am:
I can tell you one thing for sure—–If I was looking to invest money in a business, nursing homes would be last on my list!
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:52 am:
Saw a bunch of ads on television last night from Law Firms soliciting cases for Nursing Home negligence cases. Nursing Homes get sued on a regular basis. Is this new opposition research stuff really news?
What is next? A list of lawsuits against the State of Illinois for negligence?
I’m still waiting for an intelligent answer to my question posed now three days ago: In the bankruptcy case in Florida now on trial, why wasn’t Rauner ever deposed?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:53 am:
Like usual, Quinn is overplaying his hand with this because there is nothing left in the deck. Enjoy your short term success!
- walker - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:56 am:
This is awfully low bottom fishing by the Quinnsters.
Matches the “early release of dangerous criminals” lists from the Rauner campaign.
None of this does anything worthwhile.
- Madison - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:57 am:
So at wha point is it right for BR to start attacking PQ for the deaths that OIG investigated at state DD or MI facilities?
It would be interesting tonsee a liitle sunshine on that record.
i would be inclined to believe that Rauner is many times removed from these cases. PQ not so nuch
- William j Kelly - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:59 am:
Louis, let me ask you a question, would you put a loved one in a rauner home?
- mike - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:00 am:
Some 40 days before the election, Rauner’s campaign is following Dan Hynes’ losing
strategy. I think his campaign is the one with nothing left in the deck at this point.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:02 am:
William j Kelly
Please get back in your clown car, Quinnochio is getting away.
- Bill White - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:04 am:
Frenchie Mendoza - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:44 am:
Small suggestion:
Leading off with Rauner’s “It’s a distraction” line could make a better commercial.
Split screen “It’s a distraction” while the faces and names scroll on the other side of that split screen.
End with “I’ve been a success at everything I’ve done”
- John Boch - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:05 am:
No mention of the lives changed or lost as a result of ?
If it’s fair to talk about what happened in Rauner’s nursing home chain, surely it’s fair to talk about the people victimized by inmates Quinn’s administration pushed out of prison early to save money, is it not?
Do any of you want your mothers/grandmothers to look like this?
http://www.humanevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Mary-Shepard-courtesy-daysofourtrailers_blogspot_com_1.jpg
That’s Mary Shepard, the woman nearly beaten to death (along with another older woman) by one of Quinn’s early release prisoners. It was her lawsuit that brought concealed carry to Illinois, of course.
C’mon, Quinn: Let’s talk about job creation and growing Illinois’ economy, along with how we’re going to improve the state’s outlook. Ditto for you, Bruce Rauner.
John
- Chef - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:10 am:
These attacks are pathetic.
When a Governor can’t run on his record, it’s pathetic.
When a challenger can’t focus on the issues, it’s pathetic.
Though, nothing could be as pathetic as the Paul Ryan “Throw Grandma off the Cliff” video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGnE83A1Z4U
Though negative ads move numbers, I am curious to the polling of who they affect. As part of the younger generation, I feel bitterness to the candidate who produces them. If you have to make them, at least make them comical like Callis’.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:13 am:
===I’m still waiting for an intelligent answer to my question posed now three days ago: In the bankruptcy case in Florida now on trial, why wasn’t Rauner ever deposed?===
It’s a very reasonable question but it’s unreasonable to expect anyone other than the plaintiff’s lawyers to truly know the reason(s) and I doubt they will tell you.
- Dee Lay - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:27 am:
I think Gov. Christie summed up my reaction: http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/9-23-2014/B2COT0.gif
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:29 am:
- When a Governor can’t run on his record, it’s pathetic. -
By my count there have been 2 positive TV ads about the Governor’s record. Where’s the positive spot about Rauner’s business record?
- Under Further Review - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 11:34 am:
How will Quinn look if scrutiny is applied to the number of incidents occurring at the Illinois nursing homes that the state is charged with regulating? Sadly, these events are not uncommon in nursing and retirement homes. There are no easy answers either.
- Just Wondering - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 12:41 pm:
I wonder how many lawsuits are brought against IDOT for fatal accidents on our crumbling roads and bridges. Their website says 641 fatalities so far this year.
- Johnnie F. - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 1:28 pm:
In comparing horrible neglect scenarios at state facilities vs. GTCRauner faciities…in only the GTCRauner scenario was neglect the result of a “bust-out” scheme. We are supposed to trust Bruce to care for
our seniors/disabled adult populations. We already know that special ed students are “not his
his problem”.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 1:49 pm:
We’ll have to see who runs with it and how they play it to know whether this Quinn tactic is effective.
The courts and Justice Department as disinterested third parties are doing a pretty good job already.
- PolPal56 - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 2:33 pm:
This hits a big nerve. Almost everyone is afraid of ending up alone and defenseless in a nursing home.
- A guy... - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 3:09 pm:
One case of neglect is too many. Here we are looking at 7 in 2 different states. The overall population is a lot higher than 7. People are in these facilities because often even loving families cannot take care of them at the level they need. The mortality rate is very high at nursing homes for obvious reasons. You can neglect someone for 10 minutes and they’re covered in a mess of their own making, or they’ve managed to get out of bed and perhaps have a fall in the bathroom. It’s a tough place to work and a tough place to bat 1.000. I wouldn’t ever excuse neglect of any kind. But, nursing homes are a different kind of work environment altogether. Private, public, VA, whatever. These stories could arise anywhere.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 3:37 pm:
guy, I agree with you, and it’s why these guys shouldn’t be fighting on this level rather than campaigning on policies and achievements. But it’s clear that’s too much to ask now.
- A guy... - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 3:43 pm:
Schnorf, Amen. If we could wave a wand and say “leave prisons and nursing homes, mental care facilities out of the discussion” it would be good for everyone. There are folks who relish these stories. It’s too bad. They should all volunteer in one or the other for a few days. Most would be feeling something different.
- BenFranklin - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 6:28 pm:
“Behind every great fortune lies a great crime.”
Told ya so!
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 9:10 pm:
Schnorf and A Guy -
You are both too smart to launder this mess.
Starvation. Bed sores.
Any idea what it takes to get a “willful and wanton” verdict?
And these weren’t supposedly trial lawyer havens. Florida, New Mexico and Ohio.
Regardless, it is not so much that seniors fear going in homes.
It is that middle age folks fear having to place their parents in one some day.
And no, they probably aren’t going to choose a Rauner Inc home.
But hey, if you read the Chicago Mag story, you would know they can make you a good deal on a funeral package.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:37 pm:
Well said YDD!
We all can agree that when your old or severely disabled “stuff” happens when you’re in a nursing home. Unfortunately, when you have owners who are more focused on maximizing profits than providing quality care, “stuff” happens more frequently, unnecessarily and shockingly.
- Just The Way It Is One - Thursday, Sep 25, 14 @ 12:29 am:
And for the Quinn Campaign, the beat goes on…! You just knew once all of these Nursing Home lawsuits Rauner has been part and parcel to were just going to wear him down like a War of Attrition.
There’s just No Good to come from it for Rauner, and, as I suggested months ago here, in the end, these ongoing Revelations about BR’s shoddy Business Practices as exposed in these Suits will do nothing but repeatedly pummel him and seVEREly”shake up” (Pun INTENDED!) any realistic shot he has of pulling out this Race–because it all just flies in the FACE of every which way the Baron has tried to portray himself as one who has ALways been successful at EVERY Business Venture he’s ever pursued…and as these Suits reveal, to the Average Voter upon seeing these Atrocities, that not only doesn’t wash, but is just a whole lot of HOGwash…!
- Maxine - Thursday, Sep 25, 14 @ 6:17 am:
Makes me sick! Just pray that any budget cuts to DHS or untimely payments to their shareholders, do not put the disabled at risk in the various CILA homes. I would hate to go to “any” home that was not my own; CILA home, nursing home, etc.