Romanucci & Blandin legal team states criminal charges against former Westgate Elementary school nurse are a step toward accountability but calls for spotlight to turn to District 25 actions

CHICAGO (August 16, 2024) – After several months of trauma learning their children’s medication had been altered or switched, a number of Arlington Heights families can now breathe a sigh of relief because criminal charges have been filed against former Westgate Elementary School nurse Tory Eitz.  Officials in Arlington Heights, Illinois, announced Eitz has been arrested for her alleged role in putting the well-being of children at risk with the improper administration of medication at school. This reckless disregard for the safety of multiple students exposed at least one child to the opioid, fentanyl.  Romanucci & Blandin represents families who say their children were impacted by this situation and the law firm is conducting a civil investigation regarding the administration of medicine to children. District 25 officials voted to terminate the employment of Tory Eitz on May 8, 2024.

Romanucci & Blandin Managing and Senior Partner Gina A. DeBoni stated:

“We applaud the Arlington Heights Police Criminal Investigations Bureau, as well as the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, for their months of work on the investigation into the conduct of former Westgate Elementary School Nurse Tory Eitz, and ultimately charging in this case. On behalf of the parents of the children impacted, we are satisfied and grateful for her arrest. After four distressing months, the families involved can now breathe a small sigh of relief.  

This is one meaningful step in justice, but Tory Eitz’s actions did not exist in a vacuum.  We need to turn the spotlight now to Arlington Heights District 25 and its administrators and school officials for their willful and reckless conduct and their failure to take accountability.

Romanucci & Blandin represents nine District 25 families.  During the course of our civil investigation, we learned that District 25 administrators and school officials knew of improper administration of medication, missing medication, and the failure to follow protocols when that medication went missing. This goes back as far as the 2022-2023 school year.  We believe this evidence is a clear indication of District 25’s complicity in Tori Eitz’s actions. Their willful and reckless actions put the well-being and safety of many children at risk. 

The violation of our clients’ trust by District 25 is absolutely astounding.  To date, the district has employed a delay to defend strategy. As early as April of this year, our office issued FOIA requests for information to District 25. Instead of responding to FOIA requests, they have chosen not to provide any information. We were left no choice but to seek a review with the Attorney General’s Office.  They have asked for and received an extension to respond until August 14th.  Only time will tell if this is yet another delay to defend strategy.  Yesterday, the District did provide a response, but they still did not address any of our questions and only pointed to publicly available documents.  Unfortunately, our client families have no choice but continue to pursue a review by the Attorney General’s office.

Despite repeated requests by parents, District 25 has failed to conduct an independent investigation into its own policies and procedures and its own conduct. Instead of conducting an investigation and looking at themselves in the mirror, they continue to try to shift sole blame to the former nurse.  It’s disgusting.  These families deserve better.  These children deserve better.”

The families’ names and their children’s identities, health histories and exact medications are being withheld to protect the children’s privacy.  The legal team includes Romanucci & Blandin Founding Partner Antonio M. Romanucci, Managing Partner Gina A. DeBoni, Partner Michael E. Holden, Partner Jason J. Friedl, Partner Daisy Ayllón, and Senior Attorney Debra L. Thomas.

Anyone with information about the administration of medicine to students at Westgate Elementary School is encouraged to contact the legal team at Romanucci & Blandin at 312-458-1000.

To learn more, please visit our informational page on the Investigation into Medicine Swap Harm at Westgate Elementary School in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death through impact litigation. For more than 25 years, we have secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients - many for millions of dollars or record-setting awards. Our experience ranges from mass shootings, civil rights and police misconduct to medical malpractice, sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents or workplace injury cases involving individual or institutional negligence. Romanucci & Blandin is a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors distinguish our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation, and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We differ from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. Our clients’ experiences often inspire us to commit resources to transforming lives and communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit: www.rblaw.net.