o$5.5 Million Verdict in Richton Park Nursing Home Death Shows the Tragic Cost of Neglect

When families place a loved one in a nursing home, they do so out of trust—the belief that professionals will provide skilled, compassionate care. But in far too many cases, that trust is broken. Recently, a Cook County jury sent a powerful message to one Illinois facility and its corporate owners: neglect has consequences.

On May 30, 2025, the family of 85-year-old Sandy Brooks won a $5.5 million wrongful death verdict against Landmark of Richton Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after a devastating failure to provide Brooks with life-sustaining dialysis. The case, reported by the Chicago Tribune, underscores how deadly even a few days of inattention can be when it comes to elderly and medically fragile residents.

At KBD Attorneys, we represent families just like the Brookses—people left to mourn the unnecessary loss of a parent or spouse due to nursing home negligence, wrongful death, and gross mismanagement. This verdict is a victory, but it comes at an immeasurable cost. We believe stories like this must be told, so that others can be protected, and negligent facilities are held accountable.

What Happened to Sandy Brooks?

Sandy Brooks was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. At 85, he suffered from end-stage renal disease, requiring dialysis three times per week, but remained independent and lived at home with his wife Barbara on Chicago’s South Side.

Everything changed after a traumatic fall in October 2020, which led to a brain bleed. After weeks of recovery at Advocate Christ Medical Center, Sandy’s condition improved, and doctors recommended a short stay at Landmark of Richton Park for physical therapy to regain his strength.

The family expected Sandy to be discharged after therapy. But just 13 days later, he was dead.

According to the lawsuit, staff at Landmark failed to provide his necessary dialysis treatments—he missed five appointments during his brief stay. Family members, still restricted by pandemic-era lockdown policies, were unable to visit or receive meaningful updates, despite calling the facility as many as 10 times per day.

On December 6, 2020, the family was allowed a brief FaceTime call with Sandy, who was unresponsive and unable to speak. He was found dead in his room the next day.

The Jury’s Message: Neglect Will Not Be Tolerated

During the trial, the family’s attorney, Madison Cogan, emphasized the devastating simplicity of the case. “All it took is one nurse to recognize that Sandy needed his dialysis and that he wasn’t receiving it,” she said.

The $5.5 million verdict was awarded against both Landmark and its management company, Infinity Healthcare Management of Illinois LLC. The facility did not return calls for comment after the jury’s decision.

While the Brooks family originally sought $6 to $8 million in damages, attorney Cogan rightly noted that, “It’s really hard to put a number on a life.”

For Andrea Brooks, Sandy’s daughter, the trial was an emotionally grueling reminder of her father’s suffering. “I could not believe the magnitude of how my dad suffered,” she said. “It just broke my heart that someone just did not care or not do their job.”

KBD Attorneys Investigates Nursing Home Neglect Nationwide

This case is not an isolated event. At KBD Attorneys, we have seen this kind of nursing home neglect and wrongful death far too often. From missed medications and infections to bedsores and dehydration, we investigate facilities across the country that fail in their basic duty of care.

We are proud to represent families in Illinois, Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, D.C., and beyond, and our attorneys have secured verdicts and settlements that reflect the true value of human dignity and justice.

Here’s what makes KBD different:

• We personally investigate cases, not just wait for regulators.

• We work with medical experts and former healthcare professionals to uncover the truth.

• We don’t just focus on compensation—we want systemic change and corporate accountability.

If your loved one was harmed, neglected, or died in a nursing home, you deserve real answers. And we are here to find them.

Nursing Home Neglect Is a National Crisis

The Sandy Brooks case is a heartbreaking example of a nationwide pattern: overworked staff, lack of oversight, corporate cost-cutting, and silenced families.

This isn’t just about one facility. It’s about the entire system—one that allows residents like Sandy to fall through the cracks, even when their needs are clearly documented, and their families are desperately trying to intervene.

No one should ever die because of a missed medical treatment. No daughter should have to wonder if her father’s death was preventable, and no family should be ignored when they’re sounding the alarm.

We Help Families Like Yours Take Legal Action

KBD Attorneys has helped hundreds of families file lawsuits against nursing homes and assisted living facilities for:

• Wrongful death

• Missed or delayed medical care

• Neglect of dialysis or wound care

• Unexplained injuries or falls

• Bedsores (pressure ulcers)

• Failure to monitor chronic conditions

If you’ve experienced any of these, your case may be actionable—even if months or years have passed.

Our legal team can:

• Review your loved one’s medical records

• Interview former staff or whistleblowers

• Identify violations of state and federal care standards

• Take your case to trial if necessary

We do this work because it matters—and because you matter.

A Message to Families Still Searching for Justice

The Brooks family fought for over four years to get justice for Sandy. That’s far too long for a family to wait for the truth. But their courage and persistence helped expose a devastating lapse in care—and may prevent the next tragedy.

If your loved one suffered in a nursing home, you are not alone. You don’t have to accept silence, excuses, or apologies that come too late. Contact a KBD nursing home abuse attorney today.

KBD Attorneys is here to help you navigate the path forward—with compassion, strength, and a relentless pursuit of justice.