Allegations of negligence, drug abuse and nepotism flow throughout a 15-count civil suit filed against Cogir senior residential facility and the man charged with fatally shooting one of its residents.
On Valentine’s Day, Robert Fuller Jr. as fatally shot in the head as he lay sleeping in the Cogir apartment he shared with his longtime partner Linda Buttrick.
Maurquise James of White Marsh has been charged with first degree murder and is being held without bond. His preliminary hearing is set for Friday.
Was Suspect Protected by Management
Robert Fuller Jr.
James was a medication technician at the Cogir of Potomac. His mother, Shenise James-Dubose, was a senior director there. The lawsuit alleges James’ mother, whose title was Regional Health and Wellness Director, used her position of authority “to suppress complaints about her son.”
SBWD attorneys, who represent Buttrick, spell out numerous allegations in the 59-page civil suit they contend points to Fuller’s murder as “senseless” and “entirely preventable.”
Cogir Statement
A representative from Cogir’s corporate office sent this statement to MCM: “The safety and well-being of our residents is our highest priority. We take all concerns raised by staff, residents, and residents’ families seriously and have clear processes to ensure every report is thoroughly reviewed and addressed.”
The statement continued, “We are continuing to work closely with law enforcement on their ongoing investigation and out of respect for those involved, we are limited in what we can share publicly. While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we are confident that the facts will support our position and trust that the legal process will demonstrate our ongoing commitment to a safe and supportive environment for all residents.”
Claims in the Lawsuit
According to the lawsuit, “For weeks and months before the shooting, multiple Cogir of Potomac employees had expressed concern” about James. “At least one employee told facility leadership that Defendant James was impaired on duty, mishandling resident medications, had sexually harassed at least one employee, and was otherwise dangerous.”
One nurse, identified as Nurse Jane Doe, filed “a formal written complaint” 11 days before the fatal shooting, documenting that James had violated the facility’s medication policy. Others chose not to report their concerns “due to retaliation,” according to the nurse’s email.
The email stated “Maurquise has been allowed to work while under the influence, has acted erratically, and has pre-poured medication – a violation for which another employee was fired.”
Maurquise James
According to the lawsuit, “Upon information and belief, Defendant James was also stealing narcotic medications from, at a minimum, Ms. Buttrick.” Information in the lawsuit mentions Buttrick’s doctor, who “questioned how Ms. Buttrick could possibly run out of the medication so quickly, given that she takes it at most once or twice per day” and was dependent on Cogir staff to administer her medication.
James regularly administered medication to both Fuller and Buttrick, who both were diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
Meanwhile Nurse Jane Doe “was placed on an employee performance plan, excluded from team meetings, given disparate workload assignments, and excluded from participating in the hiring process, an important part of her duties,” it states in the lawsuit.
She was fired “mere days before” Fuller was fatally shot.
Fatal Timetable
On the night of the shooting, James returned to the apartment and asked Buttrick whether her oxycodone had “kicked in,” according to the lawsuit. “This follow-up visit was highly unusual.”
Buttrick, according to the lawsuit, believes that James “intentionally over-medicated her” so that she would sleep soundly and not hear any gunshot.
The morning after the shooting, Buttrick “reported her encounter” with James “and identified him as a suspect,” according to the lawsuit. Despite that, James continued entering the apartment and giving Buttrick her medication until his arrest.
It took Cogir 11 days to change the locks on Buttrick’s door, although her daughter had requested new locks.
Following the release of the surveillance video Nurse Jane Doe and Buttrick again pointed to James as a suspect. Several other employees recognized James in the video as well.
Still James was not questioned about the allegations, was not put on a performance plan and not removed from his duties on Buttrick’s floor.
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