The family of an assisted living community resident who died after an alleged morphine overdose has refiled a lawsuit against the community and a nurse it employed, claiming wrongful death, negligence and battery, according to the family’s attorney.
As previously reported, Dorothy Byrd was one of six residents at Holland House in South Holland, IL, who were taken to the hospital in February 2015 with morphine in their systems. Her death from morphine and hydrocodone toxicity later was ruled a homicide. Two other residents also died.
The family originally filed the lawsuit in October but withdrew it and refiled it in February, largely for technical reasons, according to the attorney.
The claim, a copy of which was obtained by McKnight’s Senior Living, alleges that the licensed practical nurse on duty that night administered morphine to residents to “ease her workload.” The suit also claims the nurse had inadequate training and had an expired nursing license, and that the community was understaffed.
Holland Home told CBS Chicago that is it cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.
