Fired Prairie Manor housekeeper gets settlement

Published 9:46 am Monday, July 16, 2012

BLOOMING PRAIRIE — A former housekeeper from Heather Haus — a set of apartments run by the Prairie Manor Nursing Home in Blooming Prairie — has settled a lawsuit for an undisclosed amount in response to her sudden firing.

Cindy Robinson, a Blooming Prairie resident and wife of former Prairie Manor Administrator Mark Robinson, reached a settlement in late June on a lawsuit against Prairie Manor and Burke Management Co. Her husband was fired on Jan. 10, and she filed the lawsuit in late February.

Robinson was fired from her job at Heather Haus Jan. 17. Her husband said in January that management told his wife she was let go because of reorganization and that some seniors were upset because she was upset, which presumably was a result of her husband being fired a week prior.

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Heather Haus Apartments are next door to Prairie Manor and share management from Burke Management.

Cindy and Mark did not return phone calls for comment.

Mark worked 14 years at Prairie Manor, and has worked in nursing homes since graduating from college in 1977. He was fired the same day as Assistant Director of Nursing Pam Fate and Assistant Administrator Jennifer Milton.

In June, Sue Johnson, who replaced Mark, also left Prairie Manor after expressing concerns about the level of authority she had there. Johnson considers herself fired, saying she was told her resignation was being accepted, even though she never tendered one. Jeff Kritzer, who represents Burke Management, said Johnson had left voluntarily.

A notice of settlement for Cindy’s lawsuit was filed in Steele County Court on June 21, canceling the jury trial set for next year. Kritzer represented Burke Management Company Inc., and John S. Beckmann represented Prairie Manor Inc.

—Trey Mewes contributed to this report.