BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania – The son of an elderly woman who died after receiving a lethal dose of insulin at Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Butler Township has filed a lawsuit against the facility, alleging negligence in the hiring and oversight of the nurse responsible for his mother’s death.
Marguerite A. Laskovich, 80, passed away 45 days after being admitted to the nursing center when nurse Heather Pressdee, 41, administered the fatal insulin dose. Pressdee has been charged in connection with 17 deaths across multiple nursing homes in the area, facing charges of first-degree homicide and attempted homicide for allegedly overdosing patients with insulin.
Despite a history of being terminated and reported for patient mistreatment, Pressdee continued to find employment at various nursing facilities since 2018. The lawsuit accuses Sunnyview of negligence for hiring Pressdee despite her problematic behavior in previous positions.
According to the lawsuit, Sunnyview staff began to notice suspicious and unexpected deaths among Pressdee’s patients, with reports of her expressing excitement to administer medication and stating that residents “just needed to die.” Marguerite Laskovich’s health reportedly deteriorated under Pressdee’s care, showing signs of overmedication and unexplained injuries.
Keith Laskovich, Marguerite’s son, discovered his mother with broken teeth and black eyes two days before her death, with Pressdee attributing the injuries to a fall and failing to seek proper medical attention. Initially believed to have died from dementia, it was later revealed that Marguerite had been killed by insulin injections.
The lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering, citing alleged failure to intervene on behalf of the nursing facility. Pressdee’s employment was terminated in May 2023, and she was later arrested for the deaths of two patients at another facility where she worked. The tragic incidents underscore the importance of thorough vetting processes and oversight in healthcare institutions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.