CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County woman is suing over claims a relative sustained fatal injuries due to alleged negligence in an understaffed nursing home.
Melissa Jude, individually and on behalf of the estate and wrongful death beneficiaries of Maxine Jude, filed a lawsuit Oct. 7 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Genesis Healthcare; Genesis WV Holdings; 1631 Ritter Drive Operations; John Does 1 through 10; and unidentified entities 1 though 10 (as to Raleigh Center), citing corporate negligence.
According to the complaint, on April 12, Maxine Jude became a resident of the defendants' nursing facility, Raleigh Center, on Ritter Drive in Daniels, where staff negligence led to Jude sustaining falls, pressure sores, pneumonia, weight loss, urinary tract infection and eventually her death on Sept. 17.
The complaint states the defendants were aware of budgetary restrictions causing staffing problems and systematic problems in patient care when they presented themselves to Jude's family as being capable and skilled in care for the plaintiff.
The defendants are accused of corporate negligence, negligence, nursing home violations, medical malpractice, malice and/or gross negligence which evidences a willful, wanton or reckless disregard for the safety of Maxine Jude, fraud, premises liability and violation of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
Melissa Jude seeks compensatory and punitive damages plus costs of litigation.
She is represented by attorneys James B. McHugh, Michael J. Fuller Jr., D. Bryant Chaffin and Kendra R. Fokakis of McHugh Fuller Law Group in Hattiesburg, Miss. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King Jr.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 14-C-1834
Woman blames nursing home for relative's death
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