ST. LOUIS – An Illinois woman alleges she was unlawfully imprisoned by a hospital after her husband's death until she underwent a psychiatric evaluation.
Linda Derouin filed a complaint on Oct. 9 in the St. Louis Circuit Court against Barnes Jewish Hospital, Tyler Reising and Jennifer Lyn Deacon alleging assault, battery, false imprisonment and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on June 7, she was at Barnes Jewish Hospital Parkview Tower in a room with her husband, who just passed away after receiving treatment for lung cancer. She alleges Deacon instructed her to a conference room and the plaintiff was told she was not allowed to leave the hospital pending a psychiatric evaluation. She alleges she attempted to walk out of the room, but Deacon instructed Reising to prevent her from doing so. The plaintiff alleges she was detained against her well and handcuffed to a wheelchair.
She alleges the psychiatric evaluation found her to be of no suicidal risk or a risk to others and she was released.
The plaintiff holds Barnes Jewish Hospital, Reising and Deacon responsible because Barnes Jewish Hospital allegedly failed to train employees in family bereavement and grief reduction procedures, failed to supervise its employees and failed to train employees in proper use of force.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant jointly and severally in an amount of more than $25,000, punitive damages, costs and all other relief that is just and proper. She is represented by Alan S. Mandel of Mandel & Mandel LLP in St. Louis.
St. Louis Circuit Court case number 1822-CC11374