Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Keating Law Offices Attorneys Named to "SuperLawyers" List of "Rising Stars"

Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys Michael S. Keating and Alexander Loftus of Keating Law Offices, P.C. in Chicago, Illinois have been named to SuperLawyers Magazine's annual list of "Rising Stars." Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor. The selection for this respected list is made by the research team at Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. 

The annual selections are made using a rigorous multi--phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. The list will be published in the annual edition of Illinois SuperLawyers Magazine and in the February 2014 edition of Chicago Magazine.

Michael S. Keating was previously included in the “Rising Stars” list in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Alexander Loftus was including in the “Rising Stars” list for the first time last year. The Keating Law Offices attorneys were nominated by fellow attorneys and that nomination was reviewed by an attorney-led research team that reviews the credentials of potential candidates and assigns points based on a set of defined evaluation criteria. The point totals from the general survey and research process are then added to arrive at a final tally.

Keating Law Offices concentrates its practice on nursing home negligence and abuse cases as well as other personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from transportation negligence, medical malpractice, premises liability and product liability. The firm has successfully represented nursing home residents and their families


Keating Law Offices, P.C. may be found on the internet at www.KeatingLegal.com. The firm is located at 79 West Monroe, Suite 1024 in Chicago, Illinois. Phone: 312-239-6787. Email: Info@KeatingLegal.com.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Illinois Law Provides That Illinois Nursing Homes Can Be Responsible for Assaults Committed By Other Residents

All Illinois nursing homes have a duty to protect residents from each other. Many nursing home residents suffer dementia and other forms of mental illness that may result in violent outbursts. All too frequently, nursing home residents with mental illness are housed in close quarters and not properly supervised. The failure to properly supervise mentally ill residents may result in serious physical and emotional injury to the other residents. Under Illinois law, the nursing home is responsible for harm caused by unsupervised residents.
 

In Illinois, nursing home residents are protected under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. All long-term care facilities are required to comply with the Act. According to the Act (210 ILCS 45/1 113), a “long term care facility” is defined as a “private home, institution, building, residence, or any other place, whether operated for profit or not, or a county home for the infirm and chronically ill...which provides, through its ownership or management… nursing for 3 or more persons.”

The Nursing Home Care Act defines the minimum standards for nursing homes in Illinois including a patient’s right to be free from abuse and neglect. The Act defines “Abuse” as “any physical or mental injury or sexual assault inflicted on a resident other than by accidental means in a facility.” 210 ILCS 45/1-103. The Act defines “Neglect” as “a facility’s failure to provide, or willful withholding of, adequate medical care, mental health treatment, psychiatric rehabilitation, personal care, or assistance with activities of daily living that is necessary to avoid physical harm mental anguish or mental illness of a resident.” 210 ILCS 45/1-117.
 

The nursing home is accountable for the actions of its unsupervised residents. Injuries resulting from an attack by another unsupervised resident are a symptom of neglect just like a bed sore or malnutrition. The Nursing Home Care Act holds long term care facilities accountable for neglecting to adequately supervise dangerous residents.

If you have a question about this post, or any other issue related to Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys at Keating Law Offices. You can contact Mike Keating directly by calling 312-208-7702 or emailing MKeating@KeatingLegal.com, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All phone calls and emails are returned promptly. All initial consultations are free and confidential.