Couple sues nursing homes after daughter's death
SEATTLE -- A local couple is taking on a nationwide nursing home operator.
Howard and Ardis Steele filed a class-action lawsuit against Wisconsin-based Extendicare Homes, Inc., claiming their daughter died after one of the company's facilities violated consumer protection laws by failing to provide her with proper care as it had promised.
At the age of 48 a stroke put Lee Ann Steele in a hospital bed, unable to talk. As she improved, Steele's parents moved her to Aldercrest Rehabilitation Facility in Edmonds in October 2006. The facility's staff assured the Steeles that their daughter's special needs would be met.
"She was on a trach-tube very early after her stroke, and one of the things they were to do would be to suction that trach-tube," said Ardis.
But less than 24 hours after being admitted, Steele stopped breathing and suffered brain damage. Her family's attorney says the staff never checked on her as promised.
"It is our belief that if she had received the care, the tracheotomy care, that they were told that she would receive, that she would not have suffered respiratory arrest," said Kevin Coluccio.
Steele died two months later.
Her parents are now suing Extendicare, which owns 14 facilities in Washington state, including Aldercrest. They've filed a class-action on behalf of all of the company's patients who might have suffered.
The lawsuit alleges Extendicare's "representations and concealments are deceptive, misleading and made with the intent to induce elderly citizens to become residents at Extendicare's facilities under a false pretense, namely, that Extendicare will provide nursing care consistent with their representations."
"After what I saw, that's the last place on God's Earth I'd want to be put," said Howard.
Steele's parents said it's too late for their daughter, but not for others.
"On behalf of our daughter, I think we're fighting our damnedest to try and make sure this doesn't happen to other people," Ardis said.
The suit, filed by The Garcia Law Firm of Long Beach, Calif. and Stritmatter, Kessler, Whelan, Coluccio of Seattle, is on behalf of one of all Washington residents who resided in one of Extendicare's Washington facilities from July 1, 2004 through July 1, 2008.
According to its Web site, Extendicare operates 188 senior care facilities, 26 of which are located in Wisconsin. A report by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel newspaper says 20 of the 26 facilities have been cited for at least one serious violation in the past three years.
The article also cites a 2005 civil settlement in which Extendicare paid $2.3 million to the state of Wisconsin overs serious violations arising from the death of a resident.
The Garcia Law Firm said Aldercrest was cited for 19 deficiencies in 2005 and 18 in 2007. In both of these years, the firm said, the statewide average of deficiency citations issued by the state was nine. Ten other Extendicare facilities in Washington state have receive an above-average number of citations since 2004, the firm said.
Extendicare refused to discuss the lawsuit, but did release the following statement that read, in part,"We have referred the lawsuit to our lawyers and are awaiting their analysis."
Howard and Ardis Steele filed a class-action lawsuit against Wisconsin-based Extendicare Homes, Inc., claiming their daughter died after one of the company's facilities violated consumer protection laws by failing to provide her with proper care as it had promised.
At the age of 48 a stroke put Lee Ann Steele in a hospital bed, unable to talk. As she improved, Steele's parents moved her to Aldercrest Rehabilitation Facility in Edmonds in October 2006. The facility's staff assured the Steeles that their daughter's special needs would be met.
"She was on a trach-tube very early after her stroke, and one of the things they were to do would be to suction that trach-tube," said Ardis.
But less than 24 hours after being admitted, Steele stopped breathing and suffered brain damage. Her family's attorney says the staff never checked on her as promised.
"It is our belief that if she had received the care, the tracheotomy care, that they were told that she would receive, that she would not have suffered respiratory arrest," said Kevin Coluccio.
Steele died two months later.
Her parents are now suing Extendicare, which owns 14 facilities in Washington state, including Aldercrest. They've filed a class-action on behalf of all of the company's patients who might have suffered.
The lawsuit alleges Extendicare's "representations and concealments are deceptive, misleading and made with the intent to induce elderly citizens to become residents at Extendicare's facilities under a false pretense, namely, that Extendicare will provide nursing care consistent with their representations."
"After what I saw, that's the last place on God's Earth I'd want to be put," said Howard.
Steele's parents said it's too late for their daughter, but not for others.
"On behalf of our daughter, I think we're fighting our damnedest to try and make sure this doesn't happen to other people," Ardis said.
The suit, filed by The Garcia Law Firm of Long Beach, Calif. and Stritmatter, Kessler, Whelan, Coluccio of Seattle, is on behalf of one of all Washington residents who resided in one of Extendicare's Washington facilities from July 1, 2004 through July 1, 2008.
According to its Web site, Extendicare operates 188 senior care facilities, 26 of which are located in Wisconsin. A report by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel newspaper says 20 of the 26 facilities have been cited for at least one serious violation in the past three years.
The article also cites a 2005 civil settlement in which Extendicare paid $2.3 million to the state of Wisconsin overs serious violations arising from the death of a resident.
The Garcia Law Firm said Aldercrest was cited for 19 deficiencies in 2005 and 18 in 2007. In both of these years, the firm said, the statewide average of deficiency citations issued by the state was nine. Ten other Extendicare facilities in Washington state have receive an above-average number of citations since 2004, the firm said.
Extendicare refused to discuss the lawsuit, but did release the following statement that read, in part,"We have referred the lawsuit to our lawyers and are awaiting their analysis."
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