March 4, 2010

Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Steve Levin Quoted about “Angel of Death” Case

The Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers of Levin & Perconti filed an amended complaint in the McHenry County Circuit Court yesterday in a lawsuit against Woodstock Residence. Our attorneys represent the family of Virginia Cole in a civil lawsuit against the nursing home and two former employees. The original complaint alleges that the nursing home and named employees administered lethal doses of morphine that led to Cole’s death at the age of 78. The amended complaint adds the medical director at the time of Cole’s death as a defendant, alleging that the director was negligent in his care of Cole. The complaint alleges that the medical director diagnosed Cole incorrectly, neglected to determine if she was in pain before he ordered morphine and failed to make sure the nursing home was handling controlled substances, such as morphine, properly.

According to Illinois nursing home attorney Steve Levin, the lawsuit does not allege that the named medical director was aware that employees were giving Cole and other nursing home residents unneeded doses of morphine, a narcotic pain killer that is used to treat severe pain. The medical director was also named in a wrongful death suit that was filed on behalf of another Woodstock resident whose death is in question.

In addition to the civil wrongful death lawsuit, a criminal lawsuit has also been filed against the two former employees. We will continue to provide news and information on the “Angel of Death” case in McHenry County as it becomes available. To read the Northwest Herald’s coverage of the nursing home lawsuit, click on the hyperlink.

February 26, 2010

“Angel of Death” Defendant Receives Assistance in Nursing Home Neglect Case

The Northwest Herald recently reported that the State of Illinois will give Penny Whitlock $10,000 to pay for a defense expert witness. Whitlock is accused allowing another staff member to administer fatal doses of morphine to residents at Woodstock Residence, a Woodstock, IL nursing home that is now under new ownership. Recently, the defendant testified that she has spent over $100,000 to defend herself in court. The State of Illinois’ financial assistance would pay for an expert forensic toxicologist to testify.

The Daily Herald reports that Whitlock faces five counts of criminal neglect and two counts for obstructing justice. She is accused of failing to report that another staff member, Marty Himebaugh, was giving residents high doses of morphine. She is also accused of allowing Himebaugh to administer the drugs. The McHenry County prosecutor asked that she be held responsible for paying the county back if she is convicted.

The Illinois nursing home neglect attorneys at Levin & Perconti represent the family of one of the residents whose death is in question. Our attorneys filed a civil lawsuit against the nursing home, alleging that the nursing home's administration was aware that staff was administering morphine to residents without an order or outside prescribed parameters. As a result, our 78-year-old client died. We will continue to update our nursing home blog with related stories as both the civil and criminal cases unfold. To read the Daily Herald’s report on the Woodstock Residence case follow the link.

July 29, 2009

Update on “Angel of Death” Case against McHenry County Nursing Home

Yesterday, Illinois State Police investigators testified that a former nursing home supervisor at Woodstock Residence was aware that a fellow nurse was administering fatal doses of morphine to four residents of the nursing home. According to police testimony, several nurses came to Penny Whitlock to make her aware of what Marty Himebaugh, the “Angel of Death”, was doing, but Whitlock did not report it to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Because of this neglect, she faces charge of criminal neglect and obstructing justice.

Chicago nursing home lawyer Steve Levin of Levin & Perconti currently represents the family of one of Himebaugh’s victims. Levin filed a civil lawsuit last September against Woodstock Residence, Himebaugh and Whitlock.

To read more about the Angel of Death criminal lawsuit, follow the link.