Kenosha, Wisconsin — A family following elder care safety concerns may find a newly filed lawsuit from Wisconsin raising difficult questions about how nursing homes respond to allegations of resident abuse. The case centers on the death of a 72-year-old man whose widow claims a violent assault was initially minimized by the facility before authorities revealed a much more serious version of events.
Widow Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Husband’s Death
According to court records, Julie Newman filed a civil lawsuit on July 10 against Waters Edge Health & Rehabilitation Center and its operator following the death of her husband, Dennis Newman. The complaint alleges that a nursing home worker pushed Dennis Newman to the ground in April 2025, causing a traumatic brain injury that ultimately led to his death approximately six months later.
The lawsuit includes claims of wrongful death, negligent hiring, and negligent training, arguing that the facility failed to protect Dennis despite warning signs and did not provide proper care after the incident.
Family Says Nursing Home Downplayed What Happened
Julie Newman said she first learned about the incident through a phone call from a nurse at the facility.
According to her, the nurse told her that Dennis had “just slightly slid off a chair to the side and bumped his head a little bit,” explaining that he was being taken to the hospital as a precaution.
However, Julie said she received another call while driving to the hospital that painted a dramatically different picture.
She recalled that a prosecutor informed her that her husband had been “severely abused.”
According to Julie, investigators determined that Dennis was shoved so forcefully that he landed approximately 10 feet away from where he had been standing.
Brain Injury Led to Rapid Health Decline
Julie Newman said the injury changed her husband’s condition almost immediately.
She told reporters that Dennis suffered a traumatic brain injury, after which he struggled to sleep and eat. His health reportedly continued to decline over the following months before he died.
The civil complaint also alleges that the nursing home misrepresented the circumstances surrounding the incident and failed to adequately protect or care for Dennis after the alleged assault.
Criminal Case Dismissed After Prosecutorial Error
The employee accused of pushing Dennis Newman was initially charged with felony physical abuse of an elder person.
However, earlier this year, the criminal case was dismissed after prosecutors failed to introduce evidence establishing that Dennis was over the required age of 60, an essential element of the elder abuse charge.
Julie Newman said the dismissal left her devastated.
She recalled that “Everybody’s jaw dropped,” adding that “the abuser laughed” after the charges were dropped.
Her attorney, Kevin Demet, criticized the mistake, saying prosecutors could have introduced Dennis Newman’s birth certificate or witness testimony confirming that he was 72 years old.
Lawsuit Seeks Accountability From Nursing Home
With the criminal case no longer moving forward, Julie Newman says the civil lawsuit is now her family’s path toward accountability.
She said she hopes the legal action will help protect future nursing home residents from similar incidents and provide some measure of justice for her late husband.
According to the complaint, Waters Edge Health & Rehabilitation Center failed to protect Dennis, misrepresented the incident to his family, and neglected his care following the alleged assault.
The nursing home had not publicly responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting. Meanwhile, the worker named in connection with the incident has denied wrongdoing and has maintained that she ultimately prevailed after the criminal charges were dismissed.
What are your thoughts on this case? Should nursing homes face stricter oversight when abuse allegations arise? Share your opinion in the comments below.
