Nursing Home Neglect Case Dismissed
By: Import User
Updated: January 17, 2008
Four employees of Evansvilles Brentwood nursing home watched their 18 month long legal battle come to an abrupt end Thursday. The felony neglect case against them was dismissed before defense attorneys had a chance to present any evidence.
Teresa Williams, Ron Gillenwater, Elizabeth McCabe and Connie Burris all faced charges stemming from the October, 2005 death of Brentwood patient Morline Allen. A coroners investigation concluded that Allen died from complications stemming from severe neglect, and that she was covered with bed sores and had a catheter embedded in her thigh as a result of her poor treatment.
But defense attorneys say a close examination of her medical records showed her bed sores, and the thigh wound, happened before she became a patient at Brentwood. The judge agreed, and dismissed the case.
Brentwood, now called Golden Living, released a statement saying, "We stood proudly behind our staff members from the beginning, because we know that these vicious allegations were baseless." It goes on to say, "Ms. Allens skin condition actually improved during her last residency in our facility. When it came time to prove the allegations in a court of law, the claims evaporated in light of the facts."
