* Tribune…
Richard Cieski for years received care at the veterans home in downstate LaSalle that his family recalled as “amazing.” The 89-year-old decorated Korean War Army veteran schmoozed with friends, participated in an array of activities and excelled in an environment even as he coped with escalating dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
“They had church. They had animals that came in. They had coffee and conversation. They had haircuts. Physical therapy. Everything. He was clean. His hair was combed. He had his room and it was clean,” a granddaughter, Lindsay Lamb of Lockport, said. “He was thriving in there until it happened.”
That was in November 2020, when the COVID-19 coronavirus began to sweep through the state-run, long-term-care facility for veterans. As the coronavirus ran its deadly course through the LaSalle veterans home, the outbreak led to the deaths of Cieski and 35 other veterans.
“Six of the men ate lunch with my dad and his whole table died. There’s no one left that ate lunch with my dad. They all died within a week of each other,” said one of his daughters, Leslie Lamb of Seneca. “It could have been prevented if protocol was followed.”
The deaths have prompted a series of individual lawsuits against the state on behalf of the families of 26 veterans who died of COVID-19 or coronavirus-related illnesses. The lawsuits, which began being filed last week in LaSalle County, allege negligence and wrongful death and could cost the state millions of dollars.
* Press release…
Levin & Perconti filed lawsuits for the families of 27 veterans who contracted COVID-19 due to a preventable outbreak at LaSalle Veterans’ Home in late 2020. Twenty-six of those veterans needlessly died and suffered painful deaths isolated from their families according to the lawsuits. The families filed lawsuits against the state of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, LaSalle Veterans’ Home and several senior administrative, medical and nursing staff members at the long-term care facility. The lawsuits allege although COVID-19 safety protocols were well known by the time of the outbreak, LaSalle Veterans’ Home did not have a comprehensive COVID-19 plan nor did staff members abide by even the most basic safety protocols.
The outbreak began November 1, 2020, when two residents and two employees tested positive for COVID-19. By the end of the month, more than 200 people had tested positive. In all, 36 veterans died. According to the lawsuits, various LaSalle employees — including nurses, nursing assistants and nurses’ aides — attended an off-site party on October 31, 2020. As residents and staff tested positive for COVID-19 in the following days, nursing staff continued to report to work and care for residents and veterans who tested positive were not isolated from other residents. Staff members were not following safety protocols, such as wearing masks, temperature checks, or washing their hands. The facility did not even have effective hand sanitizer according to the complaints.
“It’s not like they did something and did it wrong. It’s not like they took action that turned out to be wrong in light of greater knowledge. They did little to nothing. That is what is so shocking,” said Levin & Perconti founder and senior partner, Steven Levin. “Many of these veterans died alone, suffering from air
hunger and respiratory failure. It is true human suffering to be unable to breathe, alone and frightened, without any comfort or support.”
In a scathing report, by the Illinois Inspector General, state investigators called staff’s handling of the outbreak “inefficient, reactive and chaotic” and found a lack of preparation “contributed to the scope of the outbreak.” According to the report, LaSalle leadership failed to effectively communicate, train and educate employees. Many staffers acted like they were unaware of basic infection control protocols.
“The state investigated itself and found itself guilty. The state of Illinois now must take accountability and do the right thing for the families of the victims,” said Levin & Perconti managing partner Michael Bonamarte. “When families learned about the extent of the negligence at LaSalle, it was particularly shocking and devastating and made the loss of their loved ones so much more painful. These men chose to spend their final years at LaSalle Veterans’ Home because they trusted they would be safe. The state betrayed that trust.”
Ironically, the families of the victims were following established COVID-19 protocols. They were not allowed inside the veterans’ home to see their loved ones in an effort to keep them safe from the virus. By late 2020, many of the veterans’ families thought there was light at the end of the tunnel. They had kept safe distances, communicating through windows. Vaccines were about to become widely available.
Plaintiff David Liesse’s father. Jerome Liesse, tested positive for COVID-19 on a Friday in November 2020, and died the following Tuesday. Liesse was a World War II veteran who earned three medals for his service.
“My dad died before he should have. Someone had to bring COVID into his room and it was not the families. It didn’t jump through the window,” said David Liesse. “How can you have an administration that allows people to run a veterans home with such lax security and scrutiny over what’s happening? Someone needs to be responsible for what was done, what wasn’t done and what was supposed to be done.”
Plaintiff Mary Beth Schomas said no one from the VA notified her that her father died after contracting COVID-19 during the LaSalle outbreak. She learned about his death from the hospital where he passed. Her father, U.S. Army veteran Bernard Schomas, served as a medic in World War II under General George S. Patton. Schomas was at the Battle of the Bulge and earned numerous medals.
“When I went to LaSalle to pick up his stuff, they just acted like it was no big deal. Here it is. Go. He was one of the healthiest old guys there. There was no reason for him to die had they taken care of him,” said Mary Beth Schomas.
“We gave them our trust to take care of him and that was betrayed,” said Lindsay Lamb. Her grandfather, Richard Cieski served during the Korean War. He earned three service medals and entered LaSalle Veterans’ Home in 2017 due to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. He suffered without morphine for some of the final hours of his life as he struggled to breath because the home ran out of it.
“These men served our country and protected us and probably experienced things that we could never understand. And they weren’t treated correctly. They weren’t given the same type of respect that they gave us, and it’s not fair. To be left alone to die is even worse,” said Lamb.
Making matters more frustrating for the families is that, starting in 2015, a series of similarly mishandled outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease occurred at Quincy Veterans’ Home in downstate Illinois. At least 14 deaths were linked to the preventable, water-borne illness. The state was sued by multiple families and paid out millions in settlements.
Governor JB Pritzker referred to the outbreaks as “fatal mismanagement,” at the time when he was running against incumbent Governor Bruce Rauner for governor. In the aftermath of the Legionnaires’ outbreak at the Quincy Veterans’ Home, a third-party audit in 2019 made recommendations for improvement of the infection control policies at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. “These recommendations were ignored and disregarded. Neither the state nor the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs learned from their previous mistakes,” Bonamarte said.
“The families’ hope in bringing these lawsuits is to effectuate change and garner the attention of the people in power to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again,” Levin said.
“It is time for the state of Illinois to finally be accountable and make our veterans homes a model for the nation rather than a poster child for how not to treat those who have given our nation so much.”
There’s a press conference this morning to discuss the case further.
* Gary Rabine…
Over the last several days, multiple lawsuits have been filed on behalf of the veterans who died from COVID at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. They describe in detail the gross negligence and utter neglect by the Pritzker Administration in caring for these veterans. As JB continues to do his victory lap on his handling of the COVID pandemic, the truth is now revealed; while he was ordering businesses to shut their doors and issuing mask mandates, he was also ignoring veterans dying on his watch. JB can’t pass the buck to the former Illinois Director of Veterans Affairs any longer. He needs to be brought before the legislature and explain how and why he ignored our veterans and let them die horrific deaths on his watch. JB needs to be held accountable.
…Adding… Jesse Sullivan…
“Today’s lawsuit confirms the tragic reality of what we already knew: The Pritzker administration’s incompetence and abdication of duty cost Illinois veterans their lives. These families deserve justice in court. If state government cannot guarantee the safety of our heroes, it needs to get out of the business of managing these facilities altogether.”
…Adding… ILGOP…
“Our nation’s heroes deserve nothing but the best care,” said ILGOP Executive Director Shaun McCabe. “But under Pritzker, they got our worst. And sadly, many succumbed to preventable deaths. These families deserve to be heard and the Governor must be held accountable.”
…Adding… Richard Irvin…
“These veterans put our freedom first when they proudly and selflessly served our country. Extreme negligence and incompetence by the Pritzker Administration led to their tragic deaths. Their families deserve swift justice, and we must ensure this travesty never happens again.”
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
Every life lost to coronavirus weighs heavily on the hearts of the Governor and all members of his administration. That’s why Gov. Pritzker implemented public health strategies like mandatory mask use and indoor gathering limits to prevent the spread of COVID and protect the state’s most vulnerable residents. The Governor appealed to members of various communities who fought against proven mitigation strategies to think of their family, neighbors and friends that were more susceptible to the worst outcomes of COVID, urging everyone to comply. While IDVA was working to address the COVID outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans Home, the state conducted a thorough transparent review of the response to identify shortcomings, immediately take corrective actions and hold those who fell short of expectations accountable. The Governor has appointed a new director of IDVA who has a medical background with years of experience running veterans homes and has worked to implement new policies and procedures to keep residents healthy and safe.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:04 am:
Governors own.
They always do.
Not even the half measure of Chapa LaVia finally exiting her role doesn’t change that governors own.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:09 am:
Blame is being put on the Pritzker administration. Governor’s own. I get that.
However, there is nothing said about the behavior of the staff and their refusal to abide by covid guidelines.
- Pizza Man - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:18 am:
Well, we knew this was expected after the VA’s failed management. I think the guv should have selected a well-experienced official with, prior medical/health and management experience, especially after noticing the issues under then-Gov. Rauner VA management as he addressed during the gubernatorial campaign.
Instead, he picked a crony most liked referred to him by MJM’s team, and gave the go-ahead with Chapa without reviewing her credentials.
Now sadly there are consequences. Blessed all those who have passed away.
The guv blamed it on his VA chief, the VA chief blamed the administrator then had her own CoS take the heat to no avail.
- Do As I Say Not as I Do - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:22 am:
Some People: Americans should be free to use their own judgment when deciding whether to wear masks, socially distance, and gather with friends, family and co-workers. Also, masks do not work.
Same People: It is outrageous that people did what we told them to do in LaSalle.
The massive Halloween party was outrageous. Also, it took place in an area where local law enforcement refuses to enforce COVID rules.
That said, pay the families.
PS you don’t have to look too hard to find images of Jesse Sullivan celebrating Halloween without a mask on.
- One Trick Pony - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:22 am:
Lots of blame to go around on this one. Being in a LTC facility of any kind was especially deadly during the first year of the pandemic when this occurred. Combine that with an inept Director and staff not following any type of protocol and you have a bad situation made even worse.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:24 am:
“it needs to get out of the business of managing these facilities altogether”
I’ll take the compromise of relocating these facilities into areas where local authorities aren’t openly and blatantly making statements that no enforcement of heath mitigation efforts will take place.
- leonard - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:25 am:
Huh? at 8:09 it should also be noted that there was no place in the world that was safe from covid at the time of these deaths.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:27 am:
===…there was no place in the world that was safe from covid at the time of these deaths===
It’s up to you, let me know, we can revisit Chapa LaVia’s own words to that subject.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:56 am:
Penny wise and pound foolish.
LTC pay is lousy and overseen by politicians with no healthcare experience. What could go wrong?/S
- wow - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:58 am:
OW - the holier than everyone routine is tiresome.
Would love to you leading an administration or agency during a pandemic and how totally perfect your leadership would be.
It’s easy to be perfect behind your keyboard.
And before you throw the holier than thou barbs about people dying, I get it. It’s awful.
But you don’t make it better by piling on to the situation. It says more about you and your judgment than the people who did all they could in an impossible situation. The comments about literally every state government issue gets old. Would love to see you run for office and/or run an agency and let’s see how perfect you would be. If this is your way of being part of the solution, it’s not very courageous.
- The Hills 60010 - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 9:03 am:
No, or lax masking, not requiring staffers to follow infection control protocols, and even now allowing those who staff facilities housing those immunocompromised or living with other heightened risk factors to claim some wacky doodle exemption, we(taxpayers, insurance holders) are liable right along with the governors and any appointed agency leads. Illinois (us) is going to pay and should pay for this allowed institutional shabbiness and loss of lives. Very hard set of facts to read and not feel for these families.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 9:03 am:
Good to see Pearson expanding his beat to the courts. His work load was getting pretty light.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 9:05 am:
== the holier than everyone routine is tiresome===
Governors own. They do.
Chapa LaVia was wholly unqualified to be director, was summarily sidelined in the GA after making a half-baked statement about a colleague, and frankly, if you’re worried about me and how I make you feel, think about those families, maybe get over your angst and concentrate where it should be.
===But you don’t make it better by piling on to the situation.===
You have this impression I’m some sort of important voice, and yet you also say it’s easy for me “behind a keyboard”?
Pick a lane. Can’t be both… and frankly I can’t think of a serious person serving in government in any capacity, either party that takes me seriously. If you do, then you are the “one”
===Would love to see you run for office and/or run an agency and let’s see how perfect you would be. If this is your way of being part of the solution, it’s not very courageous.===
Here’s the thing;
Ineptitude isn’t excused because one says “ok, let’s see you do better”
It’s still ineptitude.
I appreciate your thoughts. It may not sound like it, read like it, but between us, again, no one is taking my thoughts serious to any decisions, governing or political, so maybe your angst should be aimed in helping these victims.
With respect.
Be well. Truly.
- ddp76 - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 9:09 am:
Great Op Ed in the Trib today on COVID in nursing homes here and abroad.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-covid-19-nursing-home-elderly-deaths-20220314-saig5xv5bbgfxiitrvvtoqzzpu-story.html
- wow - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 9:30 am:
OW - ” frankly I can’t think of a serious person serving in government in any capacity, either party that takes me seriously.”
Well, this is obviously this is a serious issue. I’m sorry you don’t believe it to be worthy of serious and heartfelt discussion.
Maybe YOU should pick a lane. Or only post on issues that aren’t serious - if you are not serious and are only joking. This issue is no place to be posting if you are not to be taken seriously.
Do better OW. If you don’t have anything serious to say, you might consider keeping it to yourself for once. It pains me that you consider it’s ok to post things that aren’t serious on a thread devoted to veterans who passed away.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 9:37 am:
=== Well, this is obviously this is a serious issue. I’m sorry you don’t believe it to be worthy of serious and heartfelt discussion.===
Friend, if you can’t read, do better.
My take is serous, you are the only one taking it seriously, for no reason than to make someone like Chapa LaVia the victim and not these families… and using me to do it.
Do better.
===Maybe YOU should pick a lane. Or only post on issues that aren’t serious - if you are not serious and are only joking. This issue is no place to be posting if you are not to be taken seriously.===
Again, maybe you are confused how words work, or how your own want to protect people makes your thoughts to me clouded… I must be making serious points to you as you are wasting so much time trying to seem thoughtful to protecting someone like Chapa LaVia and not too concerned about the victims?
Read for comprehension, not with misguided passion.
- leonard - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 9:39 am:
Just one simple question. Why does it appear that the loudest screams are from the anti vaccine, anti mask crowd.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 9:40 am:
This alone to point out how misguided you are;
===It pains me that you consider it’s ok to post things that aren’t serious on a thread devoted to veterans who passed away.===
Your angst has ZERO to do with the victims.
You tell me so.
===But you don’t make it better by piling on to the situation. It says more about you and your judgment than the people who did all they could in an impossible situation. The comments about literally every state government issue gets old. Would love to see you run for office and/or run an agency and let’s see how perfect you would be. If this is your way of being part of the solution, it’s not very courageous.===
Nope.
Your anger isn’t about the victims.
You’re upset about where blame is placed. It’s that simple.
Read for comprehension, write to make a point that doesn’t make what you write later look less then genuine
- Back to the Future - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 10:18 am:
Pretty sure Governor Pritzker’s comment that “stuff happens” during a press conference on the Veterans Home situation will make it into the opening statement, witness testimony and closing arguments of the lawsuit.
- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:27 am:
Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy contains nine circles.
Not to offend this eloquent work yet there may be a spot for number ten: Pontification.
- Rod Thorson - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:33 am:
Is it relevant that during the Veterans Home outbreak the MAGA mayor of LaSalle was encouraging people to go to karaoke night at a local bar in LaSalle? There was zero effort by LaSalle leaders to caution people and protect the veterans home residents.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:43 am:
===Is it relevant…===
You have any proof of workers attending these events, or the department “disciplining” anyone for “doing things on their own time”?
I know folks wanna make excuses and have Chapa LaVia not be held responsible or that governors don’t own… but the politics won’t change that part… the legal part will be iffy if there’s a strong need to protect the state at a cost of looking like these families are out of line seeking justice.
- Jason Bourne - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:46 am:
COVID deaths largely created by Republican refusal to abide by mitigation and publicly encouraging others to do the same. Where was this outrage when the Veterans died of legionnaire disease under Rauner?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:57 am:
===Where was this outrage when the Veterans died of legionnaire disease under Rauner?===
Is this a joke?
Use the Google key.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 1:13 pm:
“There was blatant refusal by LaSalle municipal and County leaders to caution people and protect the veterans home residents as well as other people in the general area.”
Fixed it for ya.
- 13th - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 1:40 pm:
Did they include the State Representative and State Senator in the lawsuit since they did help prevent spread in the communities, as that how in came into the facility
- dude - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 1:53 pm:
seriously, OW - what a peach.
Seems like you can dish it out, but can’t take it.
Throw criticism here all day, then say non one should take you seriously. You can’t have it both ways. It’s like trump saying “I was kidding” after horrific things he would say about well, everything.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 2:00 pm:
===Throw criticism here all day, then say non one should take you seriously. You can’t have it both ways.===
Friend, my words are worth exactly what they cost to read them.
Nothing.
:)
=== It’s like trump===
It’s not, actually, not even close.
I’m neither grifting or the leader (now former) of the free world.
If you are comparing me to any President, current or otherwise, maybe take a step back and think hard about where influences are.
===Seems like you can dish it out, but can’t take it.===
Also, I have no idea what this means… in any context… of something.
Someone, who chose, freely, to try to engage with me so they could protect those like Chapa LaVia and not the victims or victims’ families wanted to discuss my thoughts. I shared them.
- Dutch - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 2:17 pm:
It doesn’t all fall on LCL. Tony Kolbeck is just as culpable.
- Back to the Future - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 2:45 pm:
Big thanks to Team Pritzker for updating and rewriting the history of what happened at the Veterans Home.
I frankly had all the facts about what happen at the Veterans Home all wrong.
Moving from “Stuff Happens” to the Governor did a great job is pretty fancy stepping.
Great Spin Job.
- MyTwoCents - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 3:56 pm:
It’s going to be interesting to see how this all plays out because the lawsuits do seem to target all the various issues at play, from the governor on down to the failures of staff to follow common sense. Let’s be very clear about something, if this outbreak happened in March or April, it might be a little more excusable. But by November of 2020 every single nursing home employee in Illinois should know the protocols to keep their residents staff. The failure to do so is sad & there’s plenty of blame to go around.
- O Conor Ave - Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 7:38 pm:
We live a few blocks away. Locally there’s more to the story. Hoping it all comes out.