levin & perconti

5 Ways To Prevent Flu in Nursing Homes

Published on: January 16, 2020 | Levin & Perconti

5 Ways to Prevent the Flu from Spreading in Illinois Nursing Homes

An estimated 80,000 people across the U.S. died of flu-related illnesses during the 2017-18 flu season, according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And with the flu season well on its way to another deadly peak, reports of the very young and the very old being hit the worst are starting to emerge. Many of the elderly flu victims, those ages 65 years and older, are at greater risk for developing serious complications and are also residents of nursing home and long-term care communities. With flu activity expected to rise in the weeks and months ahead, be sure your loved one’s nursing home is prepared.

Hand Washing and Hygiene: Health care facilities should provide frequent staff training on infection prevention techniques and management, including hand washing, equipment sterilization, identifying sick patients for isolation, and the quick identification of flu symptoms and treatment methods. Good hand hygiene should especially be practiced before and after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious material, and before putting on and upon removal of personal protective equipment, including gloves. Residents and guests should be encouraged to perform hand hygiene.

Top Illinois Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Cases

Published on: January 8, 2020 | Levin & Perconti

Nationally Respected Attorneys

Three Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Cases That Gained National Attention in 2019

Levin & Perconti is a nationally renowned law firm concentrating in all types of nursing home abuse and neglect claims as well as personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death lawsuits. The firm’s founding partners, Steve Levin and John Perconti were among the first nursing home lawyers in Illinois and are highly regarded among their peers and adversaries for their outstanding work on behalf of victims of abuse and neglect.

Today, the Chicago based firm stands behind three decades of winning experience in defending residents who have had their rights violated and become injured while under the care of others. This is a brief review of three nursing home abuse and neglect cases represented by Levin & Perconti lawyers that made national and local news headlines in 2019.

A Chicago Law Firm Partner and His Highland Park Roots

Published on: January 6, 2020 | Levin & Perconti

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Levin & Perconti Partner Michael Bonamarte Shares Highland Park Connection with Pioneer Press

Although Levin & Perconti partner Michael Bonamarte IV calls Winnetka home for his family including wife Julia and young daughter, the accomplished attorney is proud of his Highland Park roots with a strong family history in public service. Michael recently talked to the Pioneer Press, a division of Tribune Publishing which runs 32 local newspapers in the Chicago area, about his career and family. The weekly feature called Shout Out is a short Q & A session aimed to connect suburban Chicago readers to their fellow community members and local visitors. Here is an extended recap of his conversation with reporter Daniel Dorfman.

Q: What are your favorite memories of growing up in Highland Park?

$50 Million Lawsuit Filed Against Nursing Home

Published on: January 6, 2020 | Levin & Perconti

Elderly Woman Attacked

Convict Walked Into Nursing Home and Sexually Assaulted Elderly Woman

A $50 million claim has been made against a California nursing home after a convict snuck in and sexually abused an 88-year-old woman, according to San Diego news source, NBC7. Lawyers for the victim’s family say shortly after 49-year-old Lusean Arline was released on parole, he welcomed himself through a Hillcrest nursing home’s unlocked back door and then proceeded to the second floor and sexually attack an elderly resident in her room. The report further explained that the woman was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for the rape, a broken arm, and emotional stress.

Nursing Home Negligence ‘Opened the Door’ to Violent Crime

How Music Can Help Residents With Dementia

Published on: December 30, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

Senior Living and Music

New Study Finds Hopeful Link Between Patients with Dementia and Music

Dementia, a form of Alzheimer’s, is “one of the only top-10 causes of death in the U.S. that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed,” according to the Alzheimer’s Association in Illinois. The majority of individuals diagnosed with dementia symptoms grow to rely on care provided by a nursing home to help manage their daily activities, medications, financial needs, and assist them while residing in a safe environment.

For decades, physicians and families of nursing home residents have fought against the misuse of antipsychotic drugs to treat dementia symptoms rather than look to alternative treatments. Researchers now say findings related to how the human brain responds to a familiar song at super speed could be used to help calm patients battling dementia.

Covering The Cost of a Nursing Home Lawsuit

Published on: December 23, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

Nursing Home Lawsuit

History of Attorney’s Fees Under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act

In the Winter 2020 edition of Trial Journal magazine, Levin & Perconti partners Margaret P. Battersby Black and Michael F. Bonamarte IV shared their review of how the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act provides for attorney’s fees and costs to successful litigants. In the article, the attorneys discuss the uncertainty many plaintiff’s attorneys have about the calculation of fees and costs allowed when taking on nursing home cases. This ambiguity has existed since Berlak v. Villa Scalabrini Home for the Aging, Inc., one of the first cases to interpret the statutory attorney’s fees provision of the Act, finding them mandatory.

The requirement that the licensee pay the prevailing resident’s attorney’s fees is mandatory as evidenced by the legislature’s use of the word “shall” in the statute. Ordinarily, the use of the word “shall” in a statute is indicative of a mandatory legislative intent.

Chicago Tribune Op-Ed by Attorney Steven Levin

Published on: December 20, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

Steve Levin

Legislation Banning Arbitration in Nursing Homes Protects Residents’ Access to Justice

by Steven M. Levin, as published in the Chicago Tribune

Every day, families nationwide face the difficult task of finding a suitable long-term care facility for their aging loved ones. This decision is often made in the middle of a crisis, and people feel pressured to get through the admissions process quickly to secure a spot for their elderly relative.

Mike Bonamarte To Serve As Litigation Group Chair

Published on: December 16, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

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Levin & Perconti Partner Serving as Chair of The American Association for Justice’s Nursing Home Litigation Group

Michael F. Bonamarte IV, a partner at Levin & Perconti has committed to supporting The American Association for Justice’s Nursing Home Litigation Group as the 2019-2020 term Chairman. Bonamarte, who will collaborate alongside many other knowledgeable members, will be leading a crucial role in advocating for safety and accountability in nursing home facilities.

“We provide our members — who represent our nation’s seniors and their families — with education on developments in case law and regulation and foster collaboration so that members can share knowledge and strategies,” Bonamarte recently told the Chicago Law Bulletin. “The group enables lawyers to stand up for the most vulnerable people in our society. It is my honor to take the reins as chair for the 2019-2020 term and I look forward to continuing the group’s work in various areas.”

Meet Personal Injury Attorney Michael Bonamarte

Published on: December 5, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

Meet Attorney Michael Bonamarte

Levin & Perconti Partner Carries on Public Service Legacy

Hailing from Highland Park, personal injury attorney Michael F. Bonamarte IV continues the family legacy of serving the public and those in need.

Bonamarte’s father, Michael III, practiced with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office before setting up his practice, Law Offices of Michael F. Bonamarte, and represented clients in probate transactions. Michael F. Bonamarte Jr. was the chief of the Highland Park Police for nearly 40 years and headed both the police and fire departments during his final four years. And Michael F. Bonamarte Sr., born in 1909, was a fingerprint expert with the Highland Park Police.

71 Nursing Homes Cited For Poor Care In Illinois

Published on: November 12, 2019 | Levin & Perconti

Poor Nursing Home Care

71 Illinois Nursing Homes Named in Third Quarter Violation Report

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released its Third Quarter Report of Nursing Home Violators for 2019. IDPH is responsible for ensuring nursing homes comply fully with mandatory state regulations. This report dates July 2019 thru September 2019. It highlights 71 Illinois facilities cited for various violations of the Nursing Home Care Act, a statute that provides nursing home residents and their families with the assurance that proper and safe care will be received.

Violations, no matter how small in detail, should be taken seriously, especially since history proves a majority of these facilities will become repeat and more serious offenders. Besides, several of those cited this quarter are large facilities that choose to overwork, underpay, and overburden staff. Leaving these workers with too little of resources and too many residents to care for is a clear sign that abuse and neglect of residents is present.