Sued: Cornerstone Services Client Suffered Injuries During Repeated Attacks In Joliet

JOLIET, IL — Joliet's Cornerstone Services at 777 Joyce Road was the site of repeated violent attacks last year, resulting in significant injuries for a Cornerstone Services day-program client, according to a new Will County civil lawsuit.

The lawsuit accusing Cornerstone Services of negligence was brought forward by Judith Houtz, who is the woman's guardian. The Joliet corporation offers services and facilities for adults with development disabilities at the Joyce Road location in Joliet.

As for the events leading to the Cornerstone Services being named as the defendant, on April 17, 2024, the patient had a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and functional disabilities, requiring special needs services from Cornerstone. That spring, the woman entered the Cornerstone facilities for the day program and "while under the care of defendant, Cornerstone, was attacked by another participant in the Cornerstone day-program," the lawsuit noted. "The individual who attacked plaintiff ... was known to staff as a violent participant who had attacked the plaintiff ... previously."

The lawsuit explained that the woman was taken by ambulance to St. Joe's hospital, where she was diagnosed with subdural hematoma.

As for the negligence, the plaintiff's law firm contends that Cornerstone Services failed to appreciate the danger the woman was in by the person in her day program despite targeting her in the past. Cornerstone also failed to provide necessary separation of the woman and her assailant, failed to protect her from the assailant despite knowing he had attacked her in the past.

Additionally, Cornerstone failed to timely intervene when the woman was attacked and failed to provide necessary services to protect her from harm, the lawsuit noted.

The guardian for the woman has asked for a judgment of more than $50,000 against Cornerstone, plus the costs of the lawsuit, declared attorney Joshua Rubin of Rubin & Machado in Chicago.

As of Tuesday, Cornerstone Services has not filed its response to the claims raised in the negligence lawsuit.