KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A skilled nursing home in Jackson County has been absolved of liability in the death of a patient from a pressure ulcer, despite a $25 million compensation demand made by the plaintiffs. Geneva Miller, a resident of Timberlake Care Center in 2019, developed a buttock pressure ulcer that later led to fatal sepsis. Her granddaughters, who filed the lawsuit, alleged that the nursing staff failed to take necessary measures to prevent the avoidable wound.
The plaintiffs’ attorney, Jonathan Steele, argued for significant damages due to the “egregious corporate conduct” of the facility’s parent company, Health Systems Inc. According to the suit, the facility had repeatedly requested enough staff to cover shifts when employees failed to show up for work. Steele emphasized that these pleas for help were ignored.
However, the defense denied the allegations. Matthew Merrill, the attorney representing the defendants, countered the claims by stating that Miller was already malnourished and had pre-existing pressure ulcers before arriving at Timberlake. He further emphasized that the jury carefully considered Miller’s medical conditions when reaching their verdict.
Steele has requested a new trial, claiming that the judge wrongly excluded an expert witness’s testimony regarding Miller’s need for a specialized bed. The motion is currently pending.
The verdict was reached at the Jackson County Circuit Court in Missouri. The case number is 1916-CV29764, and the presiding judge is Marty Seaton. The last pretrial demand made by the plaintiffs was $370,000, while the defendants’ last pretrial offer was $175,000.
In summary, a Jackson County jury has cleared a skilled nursing home of responsibility in the death of a patient from a pressure ulcer. Despite the plaintiffs’ request for $25 million in damages, the facility and its owner have been absolved. The lawsuit alleged that the nursing staff failed to take preventive measures, leading to a fatal infection. The defense argued that the patient already had underlying medical conditions. Attorney Jonathan Steele has requested a new trial, contending that an expert’s testimony was unjustly excluded. The case was heard at the Jackson County Circuit Court in Missouri.