EDMONDS, Wash. – A new lawsuit accuses operators of a nursing home chain of cheating patients out of the care that was promised.

This suit stems from an Edmonds case where a woman's family claims that poor care ultimately lead to her premature death.

KING

LeeAnn Steele

LeeAnn Steele suffered a stroke and needed specialized care. Instead, her family claims, she was neglected at Aldercrest Health and Rehabilitation Center in Edmonds, and their pleas to attendants were ignored.

The 48-year-old stroke victim required a tracheotomy tube for breathing, but her family claims they witnessed the supplies left in a box by the door.

"Please, LeeAnn looks really uncomfortable, please, can someone check on her? They assured us they had everything under control," said Ardis Steele, LeeAnn's mother.

When visiting hours ended, LeeAnn waved goodbye and her family left.

The next morning they were called to the hospital. They said they found her in such a catatonic state, her eyes were rolled in the back of her head.

"Her tracheotomy was not properly monitored for mucus build-up. As a result of that, she suffered respiratory arrest," said her sister, Norene.

Her family says this all resulted after LeeAnn stayed at Aldercrest for less than 24 hours. She ultimately died.

Aldercrest is one of 15 nursing homes that the company Extendicare operates under various names in various Washington cities. Now the Steele family filed a lawsuit, seeking class-action status for all Extendicare residents in these facilities since 2004.

A company official responded by issuing a statement that he has "not had sufficient time to carefully evaluate the complaint."

LeeAnn's family says they want to be advocates for other patients who are unable to speak for themselves.

"They deserve to be treated with care and dignity and get the care that was promised to them," said Kevin Coluccio, attorney.

The family claims that money is not their motivation for the lawsuit. At this point, no monetary amount is listed for damages.