Hostage situation at Delnor hospital gave patient PTSD
Kane County IL Aug 26 2017 A woman who says she was a patient at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital when a Kane County inmate admitted there for medical treatment took two nurses hostage is suing the hospital, local law enforcement and a private security company.
The second lawsuit filed in federal court in connection with the May 13 hostage scenario states that Victoria Weiland was a patient in a third-floor room down the hall from where inmate Tywon Salters had been staying. Filed Tuesday, Weiland’s complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.
The experience has caused Weiland to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, but has also made her afraid to return to any medical facility for unrelated medical treatment, the lawsuit states.
Lisa Taylor, an attorney for Weiland with the firm Henderson Parks, said they’re not asking for a specific amount yet because Weiland is still receiving care as a result of the incident. Taylor declined to answer further questions about the complaint, referencing its sensitive nature.
An earlier lawsuit on behalf of four Delnor nurses through a different law firm does not name the hospital as a defendant, but seeks action against the other three parties named in the new lawsuit and contains substantially similar claims about what transpired during the hourslong ordeal.
Among its many allegations, Weiland’s complaint states the actions of Kane County correctional officer Shawn Loomis put the patient in danger and deprived her of due process rights; Kane County may be liable as Loomis’ employer; and Apex3 and Delnor violated their duties by failing to ensure proper procedures were followed and a security plan was in place for Salters, and by not properly warning patients Salters had escaped and was armed, the lawsuit states.
Attorneys had not yet been entered Thursday afternoon for any defendants.
Kane County Sheriff spokesman Lt. Patrick Gengler said Thursday that even if he’d seen a copy of the complaint, the sheriff’s office wouldn’t be in a position to comment. The office of the Kane County state’s attorney, which has the responsibility of representing the county and its employees in civil lawsuits, stated it doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
Northwestern Medicine spokesman Christopher King declined to address the complaint, similarly saying they don’t comment on pending litigation. Apex3, along with attorneys representing the security company and Loomis in the nurses’ lawsuit, could not be reached.
Salters, a 21-year-old from Chicago charged with stealing a car, was a gang member with a lengthy, violent juvenile and adult record, according to the lawsuit.
Correctional officers knew he needed medication for mental conditions and that he was combative with hospital staff during a May 7 visit after he drank hydrogen peroxide, yet failed to adequately supervise him, according to the lawsuit.
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Salters returned to Delnor the next day after eating a piece of his plastic jail sandal and swallowing liquid cleaner, and was later transferred to a room near Weiland’s, the lawsuit states.
On May 13, Loomis allegedly unshackled Salters so he could use the bathroom, then failed to place him back in restraints. After the inmate got the officer’s 9mm handgun, Loomis ran to a room down the hall, violating his employer’s policy by making no effort to notify or protect others inside the hospital, the lawsuit states.
According to the nurses’ lawsuit, Salters initially took one nurse hostage in a nearby office, eventually heading downstairs with a second nurse, whom he raped.
From her room, Weiland could clearly hear screams from people she believes were the nurses taken hostage, her complaint states. Weiland was told nothing about what was happening and when she called 911, was told to stay in her room, which did not have an outside window, according to the lawsuit. She remained there for more than an hour “with no information regarding her safety,” according to the lawsuit.
A regional SWAT team officer shot and killed Salters to end the incident.
Gengler said Loomis is still on paid administrative leave from the county.
Chicago Tribune
