KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The family of a care facility nurse who died of COVID-19 filed a death claim against the facility for her death.
The family of Tracy Kolterman filed a death claim against McCrite Plaza Senior Living this week, stating she contracted the virus on the job.
An announcement of the suit from the family's attorney said that Kolterman contracted COVID-19 at work and battled it for five weeks before ultimately passing away. She was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 19, 2020, and died on Jan. 19, 2021.
The attorney's letter said that McCrite Plaza admitted in legal paperwork that Kolterman contracted the virus at work.
McCrite Plaza had experienced an outbreak of the virus in May of 2020 that was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department
The Kolterman Family's attorney alleges McCrite Plaza failed to inform nurses about positive COVID-19 tests within the facility, placing them in danger.
The family said that Kolterman's husband has not received the benefits he is legally entitled to because of his wife's work-related death.
It's also alleged that McCrite Plaza promised to give the widower a COVID-19 vaccine but that the director of the facility ordered Mr. Kolterman to be prevented from receiving the vaccine at the facility once they learned the family was pursuing legal action for his wife's death.
41 Action News reached out to McCrite Plaza for a statement regarding the Kolterman Family's legal action and received a letter that was sent to staff upon the nurse's death, which is copied below.
"It is with the most sorrowful of hearts that I write this letter to notify you that our long-term care charge nurse has passed in the hospital. She was a very caring nurse that put our residents first over her own pending health condition. Many of us knew her well. She will be greatly missed. We could rely on her for many things and something I will always remember is that she is the person I would go to if I needed a pen! Those of you who know her know what I mean.
It’s hard to put words to explain this last year. We’ve been required to just put down our heads and push through no matter what has been thrown at us. Just keep going. Try to make it through. There’s been no time to grieve our many losses. That time to mourn is long past due.
We are working to put together a support group as well as scheduling a memorial service to honor all we have lost over this past year.
I have struggled put this letter together. No words can make this better. Please take advantage of the little moments we have with each other. Value what’s important, forgive quickly and tell your parents, children, spouse, family, friends you love them.
Sincerely
Cassidy McCrite"
