By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — The parents of a 28-year-old man who walked away from North Central Health Care and later drowned in Lake Wausau filed a lawsuit against the facility this month.
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed Sept. 8 in Marathon County Circuit Court, alleges that NCHC staff allowed Michael Bujanowski to wander from the psychiatric residential facility in dangerous weather conditions and did not respond promptly to his absence, according to court documents. Bujanowski was reported missing Jan. 24.
Search teams scoured the southeast side of the city for weeks after Bujanowski’s disappearance and the Wausau Police Department issued a statewide alert to locate the man. He remained a missing person until May 4, when Everest Metro Police found his body in the water.
NCHC officials responded to the lawsuit in a prepared statement, issued to Wausau Pilot and Review by Communications Coordinator Jessica Meadows.
“North Central Health Care extends our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Mr. Bujanowski,” the statement read. “As with any patient, client or resident, we maintain the highest levels of patient confidentiality, and do not disclose information about patients in our care at any of our locations, past or present, or comment on any pending legal matter. North Central Health Care has and will continue to cooperate fully in this matter. Many individuals under our care are living with complex mental and behavioral health issues and North Central Health Care will continue to provide care that puts their health, safety and privacy first.”
The lawsuit names the North Central Health Foundation and an insurance company representing the organization as defendants.
Bujanowski’s parents, Michael and Arlene Bujanowski of Edgar, are seeking unspecified damages, along with court costs and attorney fees. A court date has not yet been set.
