The daughter of a man who died in May has sued Brookdale West Boynton Beach, alleging staff at the assisted living facility failed to prevent pressure wounds, infections and sepsis before his death. Kimberly Duker, personal representative of the Estate of Mark Heifferman, filed the wrongful death complaint Wednesday in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
The suit names Summerville 15, LLC, which does business as Brookdale West Boynton Beach, and Brookdale Senior Living, Inc., described as the facility’s management company. According to the complaint, Heifferman was admitted for care related to ongoing medical conditions and cognitive changes, and he relied on staff for daily living tasks.
The filing says he developed pressure injuries on his backside and lower legs, a urinary tract infection, facility-acquired infections, dehydration, malnutrition and falls. He died May 12, 2026.
Duker alleges both companies violated Florida statutes governing assisted living facilities. The complaint lists 30 alleged failures, including not preventing skin breakdown and falls, not telling family about his declining condition, and not moving him to a higher level of care. It also accuses the defendants of understaffing the facility and failing to budget properly for it.
The four-count lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in damages and a jury trial. Attorney William J. Sarubbi II of Senior Justice Law Firm in Boca Raton represents Duker. These are allegations in a civil filing and have not been tested in court.