COEUR d'ALENE — The family of a Hayden woman who died of cancer filed lawsuits against Auburn Crest Hospice of Northern Idaho and a nurse who was assigned her care.

The lawsuits, filed in 1st District Court, said the nurse cultivated a relationship with the family that went beyond her duties and then asked for and received loans for thousands of dollars that she never repaid.

Plaintiff Chris Clark, of Hayden, alleged that nurse Jennifer Drummond received loans totaling at least $13,800, according to court documents.

Clark's wife, Cheryl Rae Clark, 63, died of cancer in April 2014. Chris and Cheryl Clark had been married for 43 years.

Between December 2013 and Cheryl Clark's death, Auburn Crest, in Post Falls, billed the Clark family and their insurer more than $20,000 for services. From November 2013 to April 2014, Drummond came to the Clarks' home twice per week to perform her duties as an employee of Auburn Crest, documents said.

Drummond, of Post Falls, also attended to Chris Clark for six months as part of the bereavement care services provided by Auburn Crest.

The lawsuit alleged that Drummond attempted to "ingratiate" herself to the Clarks, including giving gifts to the family.

In Cheryl Clark's obituary, the family thanked her doctors and nurses at Kootenai Health's cancer center, Auburn Crest Hospice, and especially "Jenny Drummond, R.N., for all her excellent care, deep compassion and tireless support."

A month later, Drummond hit Chris Clark up for $6,000, saying she was behind on her bills and her mortgage payment for her home. Chris Clark wrote her a check.

Later in May 2014, Drummond asked for an additional $3,800 for similar bills, and Chris Clark again wrote a check for the amount requested.

The next month, she sought a loan for $4,000, claiming her vehicle had been repossessed or was about to be taken. Again he wrote her a check.

"There were times when (Chris Clark) would see Drummond sitting in a vacant lot parked near the entrance to his neighborhood when they did not have a scheduled meeting," the lawsuit said.

Drummond allegedly would go on to ask for $7,000 for a friend on a peace mission in Afghanistan who couldn't get home, and $3,250 because she said pipes had burst in her home and she needed to pay an insurance deductible for the repairs.

Chris Clark told one of his daughters about the loans. The daughter put a stop to the loans and reported Drummond to Auburn Crest, the lawsuit said.

The Clark family's attorney, Leander L. James of Coeur d'Alene, filed the lawsuits.

"Auburn Crest knew or should have known that putting Drummond in contact" with the Clarks exposed them to risk of harm, the lawsuit said.

Representatives from Auburn Crest didn't return a phone call requesting comment.

James said Monday that businesses that provide services to vulnerable populations have a duty to care for them honestly.

"It's an environment where we need to be very careful who we expose the vulnerable people to," James said.

The Idaho Board of Nursing shows Drummond's license is still active. She previously worked in Moses Lake, Wash., James said.

In August of this year, Drummond appeared to have set up a fundraiser on www.gofundme.com titled "Need help to land on my feet again."

She described herself as a single mother dealing with "life's circumstances" and "multiple unexpected changes for myself and my son."

She wrote in the fundraiser that she spent 12 days without a home in recent months, adding she is "scared to death of being without again. Just need a little help to get 'over the hump.' All money will go towards rent, utilities, food, gas, and back-to-school supplies for my son."

She added she is an educated career woman who has "lost everything, starting over is rough."

She raised $150 of her $3,500 goal, as of Monday night.