The family of Nicholas Cymbol, a severely diabetic man who died at the hands of nurse Heather Pressdee, has filed a wrongful death suit against the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Pressdee allegedly mistreated 22 patients, including Cymbol, by administering dangerous doses of insulin. Despite red flags, the center failed to remove Pressdee from Cymbol’s care, leading to his death on May 1, 2023. Pressdee’s abusive behavior included berating Cymbol and calling him derogatory terms, as well as preventing other nurses from providing him with food and water.
On the day of Cymbol’s death, Pressdee administered excessive doses of insulin to him, causing his blood sugar to plummet. Despite attempts to reverse the effects, Cymbol’s condition continued to deteriorate. He was eventually found in a hypoglycemic crisis and foaming at the mouth. Pressdee was terminated from Sunnyview after exhibiting abusive behavior towards residents and staff. It was later discovered that she had sent an excessive and lethal dose of insulin to Cymbol, resulting in his death. Pressdee was arrested and charged with criminal homicide and neglect of care-dependent persons.
The lawsuit against Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center alleges that the facility failed to properly vet Pressdee’s history, which included multiple terminations from previous jobs due to abusive behavior. Staff at Sunnyview were allegedly aware of Pressdee’s troubling conduct but did not receive proper training on reporting abuse or neglect. It was reported that several residents under Pressdee’s care had unexpectedly died or experienced suspicious circumstances. Despite staff concerns regarding Pressdee’s treatment of residents, the center neglected to take appropriate action.
Following Cymbol’s death, an investigation was launched by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, leading to Pressdee’s arrest and subsequent charges for murder and neglect of care-dependent persons in connection with multiple resident deaths. The lawsuit filed by Cymbol’s family seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as a jury trial. Pressdee’s lawyers have suggested that she may plead guilty to the charges, which could lead to a discussion on whether she was negligently hired or supervised and what the resulting damages should be. The criminal investigation into Pressdee is ongoing, and further developments are expected in the case.
