70-year-old Joe McLeod has dementia, his health is failing and now he’s being sued for assaulting Frank Alexander two years ago, an attack that killed the 87-year-old.
In court documents filed last week, Frank Alexander’s children are suing McLeod, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Parkview Place Personal Care Home, where the two men lived, for undisclosed damages including funeral costs.
It’s not about the money,” said Michael Alexander, Frank Alexander’s son, “it’s about making those responsible for wrong doing being held accountable.”
In 2010, McLeod was arrested for assaulting his wifebut released after his plight behind bars made national headlines. After being diagnosed with dementia he was placed in Parkview Place. Alexander’s family says was the first mistake.
“My father was attacked, my father wasn’t just pushed and didn’t just bump his head, he was attacked,” said Michael.
“We’ve been told that Frank Alexander and my dad had issues before,” McLeod’s daughter Faye Jashyn told Global News in a interview done previous this week.
Joe McLeod currently lives at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre. His family wouldn’t go on camera but say they were shocked to learn they were being sued and are seeking legal advice.
The WRHA responded to the suit, saying, “they will be participating fully in an upcoming inquest and look forward to receiving its recommendations.”
That inquest will determine if personal care homes are equipped to handle dementia patients.
“Something’s got to change,” said Michael, “we’re hoping our father’s death won’t be in vein, and we’ll see those changes happen.”
These allegations have not been proven in court.
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