Ninety-one year old Esther Rannow moved into Benedictine Living Community in February 2007, less than one month after her 91st birthday. In early October 2007, she died after being dropped at the facility.

On October 6, 2007, Esther Rannow’s family met her at the hospital after an injury at the St. Peter, Minnesota facility. According to Rannow’s daughter, Audrey Glamm, when she entered the Emergency Room, she could hear her mother screaming. When Glamm asked her what had happened, Rannow reportedly responded, “They dropped me again.” Rannow had experienced problems at the facility on September 8, 2007 when she was injured during a move. A facility employee reportedly grabbed Rannow’s arm to avoid a more serious injury during a lift and accidentally cut her arm. The facility later amended Rannow’s care plan to reflect that she required a two-person assist when moving her.

Rannow was returned to the facility later that night on October 6, 2007. While moving her from the gurney to her bed, her daughters watched her slide through the hands of a facility employee, fall into a wheelchair, and pass out. She never regained consciousness and died three days later at the hosptial.

Her family sued Benedictine Living Community for wrongful death, neglect, and failing to identify and treat a deadly medical condition. According to the lawsuit, Rannow died from a urinary tract infection that led to septic shock.

Benedictine Health Dimensions, the operator of Benedictine Living Community, denies wrongdoing in the incident saying, “Providing quality care to all residents is a priority at the Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter, and it believes that proper care was provided.”