Judge orders inspection of Cicero nursing home where 10 died from coronavirus

A Cook County judge Tuesday ordered state health officials to conduct within 48 hours an inspection at a west suburban nursing home where nine residents and one worker died from complications related to coronavirus and over 200 others have tested positive.

In her ruling, Judge Alison Conlon granted the town of Cicero’s motion to direct City View MultiCare Facility to follow state guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Conlon also ordered the Illinois Department of Public Health to conduct an inspection of the nursing home, at 5824 W. Cermak Road, by Thursday evening. The state’s subsequent report will then be shared Friday with the court and representatives from City View, IDPH and Cicero, the judge said.

The order stems from an emergency motion filed in Cook County Circuit Court last week by Cicero against City View, IDPH and Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The motion accuses City View of failing to take appropriate steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus and sought to transfer its 325 residents to another hospital or facility, as well as allow daily inspections by the Cicero Department of Public Health. Conlon did not grant those two requests Tuesday.

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“We are pleased with the court’s decision today allowing our residents to remain in their homes,” a spokesman for City View said in an emailed statement, adding: “... We are happy that the State has agreed to conduct an inspection and will work with the facility and County to determine what help they can provide.”

Cicero President Larry Dominick also celebrated the ruling.

“This is the first step in ensuring that City View does what it is supposed to do in caring for the 325 residents who are cared for there, and the 300 staff members,” Dominick said in his statement.

At Tuesday’s hearing, which was conducted via a live-streaming app, attorneys for Cicero said officials had witnessed residents at the facility not following social distancing guidelines and observed instances where staff members were not wearing personal protective equipment.

Jason Lundy, an attorney for City View, said the characterization was “untrue.”

“Undeniably we’re in an emergency situation,” Lundy said. “I think City View is doing an admirable job combating COVID.”