Corboy & Demetrio Obtains Record $2.3 Million Settlement in Nursing Home Wrongful Death

Corboy & Demetrio has obtained a settlement of $2.3 million for the family of a resident of an Illinois nursing home who died while in the nursing home’s care.

Corboy & Demetrio Co-founder Thomas Demetrio and Partner Michael D. Ditore represented the woman’s estate, and the settlement sets a record for nursing home wrongful death cases in Lake County.

The lawsuit named as defendants an Illinois nursing home and intermediate care facility for adults with moderate-to-severe developmental disabilities and the fire department and paramedics who treated the resident.

According to the complaint, the nursing home neglected to adhere to the dietary restrictions, ensure adequate supervision, implement necessary measures to prevent choking incidents, and adequately train their personnel to perform life-saving interventions.

The nursing home contacted emergency services, and the paramedics arrived on the scene but failed to save the woman’s life.  According to the complaint, the paramedics failed to promptly address her obstructed airway.

"This settlement underscores the devastating consequences of neglect and inadequate care of our client’s daughter by the nursing home that was being paid to care for her," Ditore said.  “In addition, the tragic loss of life may have been prevented if proper protocols and procedures had been followed by the fire department and its paramedics," he said.

In the settlement, the nursing home paid $2,000,000 and the fire department paid $300,000.

The settlement was obtained on Feb. 27, 2024.