Fresno Personal Injury Lawyer - Wrongful Death

Nursing Home Neglect Leads to Death Suit

David Rowell — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:01:14 GMT

The family of George King has sued the nursing home where he was a resident, claiming that neglect by the nursing home staff led to the victim's death. King, who suffered from dementia, wandered away from the nursing home and onto nearby train tracks where he was struck by a train and killed. King's family filed a wrongful death suit agains the nuring home company, Health Care and Retirement Corporation of America, claiming that staff knew King was confused and might wander away, and that they failed to properly moniter him to prevent him from doing so, or to properly discover that he had left or to sarch for him once he was gone.

These allegations, if true, are an example of only one type of nursing home neglect. Nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms: physical abuse, emotional abuse or, as alleged here, a failure to supervise which allows a confused resident to be placed at risk.

The families of nursing home residents, and those needing placement in a nursing home, should investigate carefully before making a choice. Many resources are available; consumers may want to start with "A Citizen's Guide to Preventing & Reporting Elder Abuse," available from the California Department of Justice. More information is also available here on the InjuryBoard site.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell

Student's Death Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit

David Rowell — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 20:51:56 GMT

Jodi Woods was a student at the University of Tennessee, studying to be a teacher. In June 2006 she felt so sick that she went to the Emergency Department at Community Hospital in Martin, Tennessee. She told the staff that she had a severe headache (she described it as "the worst in her life"), and had other symptoms of bacterial meningitis, a life-threatening infection of tissue around the brain. Meningitis responds well to antibiotics but, if not treated in time, can be fatal, as it was for Jodi Woods.

According to court papers filed by the girl's mother in a wrongful death lawsuit, "Jodi Woods cried out in agony and moaned so loudly that it echoed through the corridors of the Emergency Department . . . ." The complaint alleges that the hospital staff ignored her complaints, strapped her down on a bed and called her a "drama queen," believing that she was on drugs. Eventually the hospital transferred Woods to a different hospital, where she died.

Wood's mother seeks $10 million in damages, along with court costs.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell

Nursing Home Death Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit

David Rowell — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:10:19 GMT

The family of Helen Edwards has filed a wrongful death lawsuit based on nursing home abuse againt Manor Care, a nursing and rehabilitation facility, following Ms. Edwards' death. Ms. Edwards was a resident of the facility for four weeks and, according to the family's attorney, during that time she developed an infected State IV pressure sore and other problems that led to her death. The complaint, filed this week, alleges that Manor Care failed to properly care for Ms. Edwards and failed to provide needed treatment to promote healting and prevent infection. The complaint seeks $200,000 in damages and other relief.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell

$4 Million Award in Wrongful Death Suit

David Rowell — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 07:00:00 GMT

A jury in Anne Arundel County awarded more than $4 million in a wrongful death suit by the parents of a 5 year onld child who drowned in a country club swiming pool. The child, Connor Freed, was found floating face-down in the pool, and was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center, where he died on June 22, 2006. Connor's parents, Thomas Freed and Debra Webber, brought the suit against DRD Pool Service Inc., the pool managers. Freed and Webber claimed that DRD was negligent in training its lifeguards and in staffing the pool. The jury agreed and awarded $2,000,076 each to Freed and Webber.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell

U-Haul Sued for Wrongful Death

David Rowell — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 21:04:23 GMT

Demetrio Nagtalon rented a truck from U-Haul in San Francisco in December 2006, to move equipment from a video store he operated. When he had problems with the truck's parking brake, he drove it back to the U-Haul rental center for help. Bobby Johnson, a U-Haul employee, slid under the dashboard with pliers, trying to fix the parking brake. Instead of a repaired truck, Nagtalon ended up with a crushed pelvis and massive internal injuries; he died two hours later.

When Johnson started working on the truck, he left the engine running and the truck on an incline; he didn't block the wheels. When he pulled on the truck's parking brake cable, the truck started rolling; Nagtalon rushed forward, trying to help Johnson, who called Nagtalon "a hero" in police department papers. Nagtalon ended up pinned between the truck and a steel column. Nagtolon, 63, died later at a Bay Area hospital. "He got hurt trying to save me" Johnson told plice.

Nagtalon's widow and surviving children have filed a wrongful death action against U-Haul, claiming the company, and Johnson, were negligent in faling to turn off the truck's motor, put the vehicle in "Park" or make repairs in a safe location.

U-Haul says it was not its actions, or its employees' that caused Nagtalon's death; instead, says U-Haul, "the cause of this accident was Mr. Nagtalon's actions, which placed his safety at risk in a situation where his assistance was not required."

The Los Angeles Times has written about persistent safety problems with U-Haul trucks and trailers, claiming that U-Haul's fleet includes many aging, high-mileage vehcles that don't meet U-Haul's own safety standards. According to the Times report, it's not unusual for untrained or inexperienced U-Haul employees, like Johnson, to attempt on-the-fly repairs to keep these vehicles on the road.

The truck Nagtalon rented was 13 years old and had over 180,000 miles on the odometer; a week earlier it had been in for repairs to its parking brake; according to U-Haul's repair records, the brake would not disengage, the same problem Nagtalon experienced.

Nagtalon's survivors are seeking damages from U-Haul as a result of Nagtalon's death.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell

Two-Year-Old Orphan Files Wrongful Death Suit

David Rowell — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:22:46 GMT

Tyler O'Neil, a two-year-old survivor of a fatal automobile accident that killed his father, mother and brother, has filed a wrongful death suit against the driver and owner of the tow truck company that killed his family. The driver, Cynthia Charlebois, was southbound on South Chambers Road in Aurora Colorado. Charlebois lost control of her truck, side-swipped a parked car then crossed the center-line, hit another car and then slammed head-on into the O'Neil's car. Tyler's father and mother, William and Karen O'Neil, and Tyler's brother Trevor, were killed in the collision.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell

Wrongful Death in ATV Rollover

David Rowell — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 20:17:08 GMT

A Texas family has filed a wrongful death claim against Yamaha, followoing the death of their 9 year old son. J.T. Crow was killed on June 22 when the Yamaha Rhino he was riding in rolled over during a low-speed turn, pinning him under the vehicle and causing severe head trauma. J.T.'s mother, Heidi, says she's filing the claim against Yamaha to force changes to the design of the top-heavy vehicle which, she says, is too prone to rollovers. She says "I can't let this happen to another child."

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell

Slain Teenager's Family Files Wrongful Death Claim

David Rowell — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 20:54:57 GMT

The family of a Sebastopol teenager killed by Sonoma County Sheriff's Deputies has filed a wrongful death claim agailnst Sonoma County, the deputies, Sonoma County Sheriff's Department and others. The family of the slain teenager says the deputies used unnecessary force, causing the death. Sonoma County Sheriff Bill Coghill says the deputies used only the amount of force needed in a life-threatening situation.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell

Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Texas Pastor

David Rowell — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:16:16 GMT

The parents of a Waco teacher have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her husband, a minister. The parents allege that the fomer pastor of a Baptist church in Lorena, Texas was having an affair, and that he killed his wife and made it look like suicide. They say newly discovered evidence shows that the victim's death was murder, not suicide. An inquest into the death has been ordered, and 11 people subpoenaed to testify.

For more information on this subject matter please refer to the section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell

Jury Awards $25.8M in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

David Rowell — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:02:29 GMT

A jury awarded $25.8 million on Friday to the family of Beth Hippely, who died as a result of a prescription error at a Walgreen's pharmacy. The victim had the prescription filled at a Walgreen pharmacy in 2002. A pharmacy technician gave her the wrong medication, and she developed a stroke and died several years later. Her family filed a wrongful death suit in 2003, claiming that the pharmacy error led to her death.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Wrongful Death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Rowell