Executive Summary
- Linda Keeler filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Rosewood Operator, LLC, claiming negligence at The Groves nursing home.
- The suit alleges resident Jimmie Frye died of septic shock after staff failed to treat wounds or monitor his condition.
- Hospital records cited in the complaint describe the patient arriving with “foul-smelling drainage” and severe infection.
- The filing accuses the facility of violating state regulations regarding staffing levels and patient oversight.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed in Jackson County Circuit Court alleges that staff negligence and failures in regulatory oversight at an Independence, Missouri, nursing home led to the preventable death of a resident. The petition, filed by Linda Keeler regarding her late father, Jimmie Frye, names Rosewood Operator, LLC, the owner of The Groves, as the defendant. The complaint asserts that inadequate wound care and supervision resulted in the patient developing fatal septic shock.
According to court records, Jimmie Frye was admitted to The Groves on November 13, 2023, with a pressure ulcer and a surgical wound, both of which were documented as uninfected at the time of admission. However, the lawsuit states that staff found Frye unconscious in his room two weeks later, on November 28. He was subsequently rushed to Centerpoint Medical Center. The filing notes that upon arrival at the hospital, medical personnel discovered Frye was in septic shock and observed “foul-smelling drainage” originating from his abdomen.
Frye succumbed to respiratory failure caused by septic shock on December 4, 2023. The plaintiff contends that The Groves failed to provide 24-hour protective supervision, did not adequately monitor Frye’s deteriorating condition, and neglected to follow established wound care policies. The suit specifically argues that the facility failed to identify symptoms of infection in a timely manner, which delayed critical medical treatment.
Beyond specific allegations of medical negligence, the complaint accuses Rosewood Operator, LLC of violating state regulations governing skilled nursing facilities. These alleged violations include admitting a patient for whom the staff could not provide adequate care, maintaining insufficient staffing levels, and disregarding mandatory oversight procedures. The lawsuit emphasizes that Frye suffered from a condition with a “substantial chance of complete recovery” had proper protocols been followed. As of Friday evening, neither The Groves nor Rosewood Operator, LLC had responded to requests for comment.
Litigation and Regulatory Standards
The filing of this lawsuit underscores the legal liabilities skilled nursing facilities face regarding standard of care and adherence to state health regulations. In cases involving allegations of sepsis and wound mismanagement, the discovery process typically focuses on nursing logs and staffing ratios to determine if regulatory breaches directly contributed to the patient’s mortality. While the plaintiff seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial, it is important to note that a civil lawsuit represents a set of allegations that must be proven in court, and the defendants have not yet been found liable for the claims presented.
