$250,000 Jury Verdict for Improper Administration of Antipsychotic Medication at Nursing Home

Natalie Clark, 82, had a history of mental health problems. She was admitted to a nursing home where she resided for approximately one year. During her time at the nursing home, staff administered a cocktail of antipsychotic medications, which included Haldol, Seroquel and Poloxin.

She developed neurological symptoms and painful contractures, which led to her hospitalization. This condition occurred after she was given these medicines.

Clark later died after suffering from pneumonia. She was survived by her adult son.

The Clark estate sued the owner and operator of the nursing home, DeWitt Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, alleging that the nursing home was understaffed and violated state law. The Clark family maintained that the nursing home’s staff had improperly administered the antipsychotic medications to chemically restrain Clark. It was alleged that the antipsychotic medications were the cause of Clark’s demise.

The jury’s verdict was for $250,000 for her wrongful death.

The attorneys successfully handling this case were Jennie Shatynski and Benedict Morelli.

At trial, the defendants presented experts in internal medicine, pharmacology and nursing.

Clark v. DeWitt Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, No. 0107154/2009 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. New York County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been successfully handling nursing home abuse cases, nursing home negligence lawsuits, wrongful death cases and hospital negligence lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Chicago Ridge, Downers Grove, Burr Ridge, Willowbrook, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Lockport, Joliet, New Lenox, Frankfort Square, Orland Hills, Flossmoor, Park Forest, South Chicago Heights, Sauk Village, Lynwood, Lansing, Dolton, Riverdale, Dixmoor, Blue Island, South Holland, Burbank, Bedford Park, Stickney, Cicero, Elgin, Waukegan, Schiller Park, Bensenville, Chicago (Portage Park, Humboldt Park, Wicker Park, Wrigleyville, Near North Side, Uptown, Ravenswood, Edgewater, Andersonville, Peterson Park, Hollywood Park, Sauganash, South Edgebrook, Budlong Woods, Lincoln Square, Kimball, Albany Park, Irving Park, Irving Park West, Villa District, South Old Irving Park, Roscoe Village, Ukrainian Village, West Town, Garfield Park, Illinois Medical Center, Marshall Square, North Lawndale, Little Village, McKinley Park, Back of the Yards, Chicago Lawn, Auburn Gresham, Princeton Park, Washington Heights, Morgan Park, Beverly Woods, West Pullman, Altgeld Gardens), Blue Island, Calumet Park, Robbins, Worth and Palos Heights, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.