A former resident of Allure of Galesburg is suing the nursing home and a former nursing assistant, alleging she coerced him into sexual activity over a six-month period.
The lawsuit, filed this month in Knox County circuit court, seeks more than $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages as well as legal fees. It claims the certified nursing assistant enticed him with “alcohol, vapes, cigarettes, and drugs” to engage in sexual relations on the premises between July 2024 and January 2025.
The plaintiff, who has a history of mental illness, claims she misused her position of authority. He said he was unable to consent to the sexual activity, which occurred approximately 100 times while she was employed there and caused him severe mental anguish. He states the nursing assistant knew of his mental weaknesses and took advantage of his addictive traits, which she had knowledge of due to his treatment at the facility.
The CNA resigned from the nursing home on Jan. 7, according to nursing home inspection reports reviewed by TSPR. On Jan. 27, the resident told a nurse about the sexual activity. The nurse then notified an administrator of the nursing home, who reported it to state regulators two days later. The resident had also sent videos of the sexual encounters to employees.
In early February, the skilled nursing facility at 1145 Frank St. was placed in immediate jeopardy and fined more than $220,000 by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services for failure to protect residents from abuse, failure to timely report suspected abuse, and failure to properly train employees. That status was lifted after corrective steps were taken, including re-training of staff and screenings of residents for abuse.
In the lawsuit, the former resident is seeking damages under the state’s Gender Violence Act, which allows for civil actions related to sexual violence even if no criminal charges are filed and can make employers liable if they didn’t properly train or monitor employees who commit such violence.
