Attorney from "Take Care of Maya" Litigation Joins Krueger v. Petrak Legal Team

Attorney Nick Whitney, who served on the plaintiffs' legal team in Kowalski v. Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital—the litigation featured in the Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya—has joined the plaintiffs' trial team in Krueger v. Petrak, according to a Notice of Appearance filed today in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Whitney will work alongside attorneys Aaron W. Rapier and Julie A. Murphy in representing the Krueger family.

Source: Facebook

Krueger v. Petrak is a federal civil rights lawsuit stemming from a 2019 child abuse investigation that began after the Kruegers’ middle son was hospitalized at OSF St. Francis Medical Center. The child has Xia-Gibbs syndrome, a genetic disorder associated with developmental impairment, low muscle tone and breathing problems. According to the federal complaint, OSF's child abuse pediatrician, Dr. Channing Petrak, ignored that diagnosis and accused the parents of fabricating their son’s medical condition. DCFS subsequently removed all three Krueger children, including a newborn taken shortly after birth, and kept them separated from their parents for 467 days.

The defendants are OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Dr. Channing Petrak, and ten Illinois Department of Children and Family Services officials sued in their individual capacities: Jennifer Inness, Alisa Collins, Kimberly Taylor, Leandra Tate, Raelyn Galassi, Austin Haddock, Anita Parker, Angelique Maxwell, Lindsay Horcharik and Kimberly Wilson. Earlier this year, the court granted the Krueger family's request to expedite the case after Patti Krueger was diagnosed with Stage IV osteosarcoma. The motion argued that an earlier trial date was necessary because her ability to participate in the proceedings has become uncertain. Jury selection is scheduled to begin September 28, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Peoria.