Nursing home hit with malpractice suit in woman's death

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County man has filed a professional malpractice suit against the nursing home where his mother was a resident when she died.

Billy Skiles filed the suit July 18 in Kanawha Circuit Court, on behalf of the estate of his mother, Barbara Skiles. Genesis Healthcare Corporation, HR of Charleston Inc., and Oakridge Center are the defendants.

According to the suit, Barbara Skiles lived in the Oakridge Center from Sept. 12, 2005, to Feb. 18, 2006, when she died. She was admitted to the nursing home because of an illness and her need for constant care.

Billy Skiles claims his mother suffered falls on various occasions, because of the negligent treatment of the employees at the home. He claims in the suit that the care and treatment his mother received violated the standard of care normally exercised in such circumstances.

Skiles seeks compensatory and punitive damages in an amount to be determined by a jury, plus court costs.

Attorney Marvin W. Masters represents Skiles. The case has been assigned to Judge Charles King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 07-C-1482