Rachel Stahle filed the first COVID-related lawsuit in Kansas against Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation Center on behalf of Okey Long’s family. Okey, a 87-year-old man who entered the facility for rehab after suffering from a stroke, died from complications due to coronavirus on April 17. He was one of 27 people associated with this home that has passed away. An additional 94 residents and 25 staff have also tested positive.
The suit charges Riverbend with negligence. If the home would have followed basic preventive steps, the spread of COVID could have been prevented. The suit notes how Riverbend did not tell the family of its first positive case on April 1. Instead, they heard it from the news. Also, Riverbend failed to follow proper infection control protocols, to ensure its workers weren’t sick, to provide proper personal protective equipment and to separate the residents who were COVID-19 positive from the rest of the residents.
News of this suit was widely covered by local media, including –
KMBC – April 23
KMBC – May 5
FOX 4 – article 1
FOX 4 – article 2
For more information, please visit our COVID page, and if you suspect your loved one is not being properly cared for in their nursing home or long-term care facility, please call us.