West Des Moines, IA — One of Iowa’s largest nursing home operators has faced a surge of legal challenges over the past year and a half, with families filing at least 17 wrongful-death or negligence lawsuits tied to facilities across the state, according to court records and industry reports.
Care Initiatives, a nonprofit that runs 43 nursing homes along with assisted living and hospice sites, cares for roughly 2,800 Iowans. The organization has consistently denied wrongdoing in each case and said it does not comment on ongoing litigation. Several lawsuits have been settled or dismissed, while others continue through the courts or private arbitration.
Newest Lawsuit Centers on Pleasant Hill Facility
The most recent case was filed by the estate of Maris Bergis, who was admitted to Parkridge Specialty Care in Pleasant Hill on Sept. 1, 2023, for a short stay following a hospitalization for pneumonia. According to the lawsuit, Bergis was alert upon arrival and required regular breathing treatments and close monitoring.
Family members allege staff failed to provide those treatments, leading to a rapid decline in his condition. State inspectors later cited the facility for delaying necessary care. While the lawsuit does not specify the details of Bergis’ death, it claims the home’s “gross negligence” contributed to his deterioration and “untimely” passing.
Inspection records show Bergis became increasingly unresponsive three days after admission and was transported to a hospital only after his spouse insisted. The documents do not describe what occurred after he arrived at the hospital.
A Pattern of Claims Across Iowa
The lawsuit involving Bergis is one of numerous allegations brought against Care Initiatives’ facilities since mid-2023. The cases span claims of untreated infections, repeated falls, inadequate staffing, and delayed emergency responses. Many have ended in settlements or been diverted to arbitration.
Among the filings:
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Northcrest Specialty Care, Waterloo:
Families of three former residents — Lora Pavlovec, Janice Schmitt, and John Nichols — alleged failures in fall prevention, wound care, and supervision between 2021 and 2022. One case was dismissed following settlement; another heads to trial in 2026; a third is paused pending arbitration. -
Southridge Specialty Care, Marshalltown:
The family of Larry Nichols alleged he developed sepsis and died months after admission in 2022. The case is largely in arbitration. -
Centerville Specialty Care:
A suit filed in 2024 claims resident Debbie Thomas suffered burns, a severe pressure ulcer, and fatal complications. A trial is set for January 2027. -
Corning Specialty Care:
The family of Angela Segebart alleged staff dropped her during a transfer shortly after a COVID-19 diagnosis in 2022, leading to broken legs and her subsequent death. Most claims were ordered to arbitration before the family dismissed the suit. -
Wapello Specialty Care:
A case involving Alice Ward, who wandered from the facility, fell, and later died, was dismissed in 2025 after being sent to arbitration. -
Avoca Specialty Care:
The family of Craig Christensen reached a settlement after alleging the facility failed to treat a urinary tract infection that progressed to fatal septic shock. -
Ravenwood Specialty Care, Waterloo:
A 2025 lawsuit claims staff found resident Mickey Neal on the floor with a head wound in April 2024; he died days later. Trial is scheduled for 2027. -
Corydon Specialty Care:
A lawsuit alleging the death of Gloria August following a series of falls was dismissed in October 2025. -
Parkridge Specialty Care, Pleasant Hill:
Another case tied to the same facility alleged staff ignored signs of dangerously low blood sugar in resident Neuang Boun Sisamouth in 2022, delaying her transport to the hospital by more than 90 minutes. Trial is set for March 2027. -
Parkridge Specialty Care, Pleasant Hill:
A separate suit filed by the family of 58-year-old Kerry Morris accused staff of failing to respond to respiratory distress during his short-term stay in 2022. Video evidence, according to the complaint, showed several workers standing in the hallway as Morris collapsed. The family later requested dismissal in 2025. -
Fonda Specialty Care:
The family of Marvin “Pete” Jacobs alleged staff failed to properly clear his tracheostomy tube, contributing to his 2023 death. A caregiver later entered an Alford plea to a reduced criminal charge of wanton neglect. The civil suit is stayed for arbitration.
In a related case, former employee Tylene Schultz alleges she was fired after Jacobs’ death and told via text messages not to speak with his family. Her retaliation lawsuit goes to trial in August 2026. -
Crestview Specialty Care, West Branch:
The family of Ruth Bartow claims an unauthorized male visitor was twice found in Bartow’s room — once unclothed and in her bed — in April 2023. A trial is scheduled for May 2027. -
Odebolt Specialty Care:
A lawsuit filed by 88-year-old Elaine Gunderson alleges she was able to wheel into a restricted kitchen area in July 2024, where she fell down a concrete staircase. Inspection reports documented extensive bruising and a head wound requiring stitches. The case is currently in arbitration.
Across the state, these cases have put renewed scrutiny on staffing, oversight, and safety procedures within Iowa’s long-term care sector. While each lawsuit presents its own set of circumstances, together they highlight recurring concerns voiced by residents, families, and state inspectors.
