One of Iowa’s largest nursing home chains is facing new lawsuits alleging nonpayment of bills and wrongful death.
Gibbins Advisors, a financial consulting firm based in Tennessee, is suing Accura Healthcare, an Oklahoma company that operates 27 senior-care facilities within Iowa, in Polk County District Court.
It is one of two pending lawsuits against Accura alleging nonpayment of bills. Earlier this week, two of Accura’s former landlords, sued a group of six Iowa nursing homes operated by Accura in federal court, alleging they owe more than $2.1 million in back rent.
As part of that case, Summit Healthcare Operating Partnership and Fantasia Investment allege they are owed a portion of the overall debt — from 8.5% to 10% — that’s consistent with their stake in the group that owns the six Accura facilities.
Accura Healthcare has said it does not respond to the specifics of pending litigation, but says its highest priority is providing “continuous, high-quality care to our residents and fully supporting our dedicated care teams across every community we serve.” The company did not offer a comment Friday regarding the new lawsuits.
The lawsuit filed by Gibbins Advisors alleges that in June 2024, it entered into an agreement with Accura to provide financial and restructuring consulting services, with day-to-day direction provided by Accura’s CEO, Ted LeNeave. Under the contract, Gibbins alleges, it was to provide Accura with assistance in managing cash flow, evaluating any financial restructuring options, and negotiating with Accura’s lenders, landlords and vendors.
As part of that arrangement, the lawsuit asserts, Accura paid a $15,000 retainer to be credited against Gibbins’ billings, which eventually totaled $113,413.
According to the lawsuit, Accura still owes Gibbins $46,546, but has rejected repeated demands for payment. The lawsuit seeks a court judgment against Accura in that amount, plus interest and attorneys’ fees.
In response, Accura has denied any wrongdoing and filed a counterclaim alleging Gibbins employed “unqualified personnel” to work on matters and also failed to provide proper oversight and verification of the work being performed under the contract.
A trial-setting conference in the case is scheduled for Sept. 14, 2026.
New wrongful death lawsuit
Accura is also facing a newly filed wrongful death lawsuit brought by the estate of the late Marcus Leonard, a former resident of the Accura of Cascade nursing home in northeast Iowa.
The lawsuit, filed in July, alleges that on June 27, 2025, Leonard, then 92, was dropped face-first from a mechanical lift while the Accura of Cascade staff transferred him in or out of a bed or chair. Leonard allegedly suffered facial trauma, head lacerations and broken teeth. The home’s on-call physician was “not notified until a significant period of time after the fall,” the lawsuit alleges.
The home’s initial response to the incident was limited to over-the-counter analgesics delivered on an as-needed basis, the lawsuit claims, and hospice workers had to intervene to obtain adequate pain medication.
Leonard “endured days of conscious pain,” according to the lawsuit, and died on July 4, 2025. The manner of his death was certified as an accident resulting from the fall from the lift, the lawsuit alleges.
During a state inspection after the incident, Accura of Cascade was cited for failing to train its staff on how to properly size the slings that are used in the mechanical lifts, although no fines or penalties were imposed. The lawsuit alleges the staff selected slings by personal preference from an “unsorted supply of mismatched, unlabeled slings that were used interchangeably.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for negligence, wrongful death and pre-death pain and suffering. In addition to Accura Healthcare, the lawsuit names as defendants Accura of Cascade’s former administrator, Rachel Finn, and former director of nursing, Juanita Bielenberg. Also named as defendants are the unidentified caregivers who handled Leonard’s transfer in the mechanical lift.
The defendants have yet to file a response to the lawsuit.
Previous lawsuit also alleged improper use of lift
In July 2025, the family of Kenneth Willson sued Accura and Shell Rock Senior Living, alleging that on Feb. 19, 2024, the facility staff improperly used a mechanical lift to transfer Willson, causing him to fall to the floor, striking his head.
Willson allegedly sustained a broken leg and head injury in the fall. His family’s lawsuit alleging negligence and dependent adult abuse was stayed after Accura argued Willson’s wife had signed an arbitration agreement stipulating that any claims against the company would be heard by an arbitrator rather than in a court of law.
Court records indicate that in late July, the parties were scheduled to meet with a mediator before proceeding to arbitration.
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