KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Four new lawsuits have been filed against Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in response to the COVID-19 outbreak at the facility.
On Friday, John Rollins with The Rollins/Kavanaugh Law Firm P.C., filed the lawsuits on behalf of four different families.
All of the families have loved ones who died at the Kansas City, Kansas, nursing home from COVID-19.
The lawsuits identify the following residents who died from the virus:
- Ruth Baskin, 89, died on April 8.
- Deadra Block, 55, died on April 9.
- Joyce Ann Brown, 85, died on April 15.
- Eddie Danner, 83, died on April 18.
According to Rollins, Riverbend didn't follow protocols put in place by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, which asked nursing facilities to screen all employees for signs and symptoms of the virus.
Riverbend and health officials in Wyandotte County said the outbreak likely started with an employee who worked at the facility while displaying symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever.
According to the lawsuit, the employee reported to work on March 27 and March 28 while sick.
"Not only was he allowed to enter, he didn't have appropriate PPE (personal protection equipment) when he came into contact with other individuals within the facility," Rollins said.
The employee tested positive on April 1. Since then, 28 residents have died and 128 residents and staff have contracted the virus. As of Friday, six residents were in the hospital.
So far, five lawsuits have been filed against Riverbend.
Rollins told 41 Action News that he is in the process of filing another lawsuit.
