A lawsuit has been filed by a Kansas City, Missouri, law firm against Brighton Gardens, a Johnson County long-term facility where 14 residents have died.
THE LEGISLATURE MAKESA DECISION.THE FAMILY OF A FORMERRESIDENT OF BRIGHTONGARDENS FILED A LAWSUITTODAY -- CLAIMING THELONG-TERM CARE FACILITYWAS SLOW TO RESPONDTO THE OUTBREAK.AS THE I-TEAM'S ANDYALCOCK REPORTS -- THEPRIAIRIE VILLAGE FACILITYNOW HAS 76 COVID-19CASES AND 14 DEATHS.GORDON GROHMANN WAS88 YEARS OLD AND AGROHMANN'S FAMILYFINALLY INSISTED HE GETSENT TO THE HOSPITAL ONAPRIL 29TH.THE NEXT DAY, APRIL 30THHE TESTED POSITIVE FORTHE VIRUS.THE FOLLOWING DAY, HEDIED.RACHEL STAHLE/GROHMANNFAMILY ATTORNEY"WHAT WE'RE LOOKING ATMORE IS THE FAILURE TOUSE THE PPE THAT WASAVAILABLE TO THEM.
SOTHEY DIDN'T DO THAT?CORRECT."A SIMILAR CLAIM WASMADE BY A FORMEREMPLOYEE WRECENTLY SPOKE TO USAND WHO DIDN'T WISH TOBE IDENTIFIED DUE TOFUTURE EMPLOYMENTFEARS.THAT WORKER CLAIMS TOHAVE STARTED WEARING AMASK IN MID MARCH.BUT THE WORKER ALSOCLAIMS TO HAVE BEENTOLD BY MANAGEMENT ATTHAT TIME NOT TO WEAR AMASK IN THE HALLWAYSOR PASSING OUTMEDICATION."I THINK THAT IT WASREALLY WRONG TO STARTTHAT.
I MEAN TO TELL METHAT IT WASN'T OKAY FORME WHEN IT'S MY RIGHT TOWEAR A PROCTIVEMEASURE AGAINST APANDEMIC." THE FORMERWORKER SAID.RACHEL STAHLE/GROHMANNFAMILY ATTORNEY"THESE FAILURES GO ALLTHE WAY TO THE TOP.THESE FACILITIES DO NEEDTO PROVIDE THEIR STAFFWITH WHAT THEY NEED TODO THEIR JOBS."ANDY ALCOCK"THE NEW LAWSUIT COMESAFTER THE JOHNSONCOUNTY HEALTHDEPARTMENT LAST WEEKISSUED AN ULTIMATUM TOBRIGHTON GARDENS TOFOLLOW ITSRECOMMENDATIONS FORSTOPPING THE SPREAD OFTHE VIRUS OR HAVETHOSERECOMMENDATIONSENFORCED.
ALSO LASTWEEK, BRIGHTONGARDENS CORPORATEOWNERS SENT AN EMAILTO FAMILY MEMBERS OFRESIDENTS HERE STATINGCURRENT EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR LISA BARNESWAS BEING REPLACED INTHAT ROLE BY THECURRENT NURSINGDIRECTOR ON AN INTERIMBASIS AT THE END OF THEMONTH.RACHEL STAHLE/GROHMANNFAMILY ATTORNEY"THE SPECIFIC FACTSLEADING UP TO THAT WILLBE AT ISSUE IN THE CASE."IN AN EMAIL LAST WEEK,AN EXECUTIVE FORSUNRISE SENIOR LIVING,BRIGHTON GARDENSOWNER, SAID THE FACILITYIS WORKING WITH THEJOHNSON COUNTY HEALTHDEPARTMENT TO STOPFURTHER VIRUS SPREAD.THAT STATEMENT ALSOSAID BRIGHTON GARDENSHAS ADEQUATE PPE TOPROTECT BOTHRESIDENTS AND STAFF.A REPRESENTATIVE SAYSTHE COMPANY DOESN'TCOMMENT ON LEGALMATTERS.I'
Oktibbeha County sees a spike in coronavirus cases Friday.
