CHARLESTON -- A Kanawha County man is suing over claims his wife sustained injuries and infections while hospitalized that contributed to her death.
Rickie Saunders, as personal representative of the estate of Dori Saunders, filed a lawsuit Oct. 23 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Select Specialty Hospital of Huntington, citing wrongful death.
According to the complaint, Dori Saunders was hospitalized for encephalitis at Charleston Area Medical Center, but was transferred to the defendant hospital for rehabilitation Oct. 23, 2012. The complaint states that while a patient of Select Specialty Hospital, Saunders suffered a fall that resulted in a fractured hipbone and compression fracture of a lumbar spine vertebrae, and later suffered from infections. Plaintiff Rickie Saunders says these injuries contributed to her death April 3, 2013.
The defendant is accused of negligence in failing to prevent her injuries, and Rickie Saunders is suing under a wrongful death claim.
Rickie Saunders seeks punitive damages, medical and funeral expenses and attorney fees.
He is represented by attorneys Andrew L. Paternostro, Sprague W. Hazard and Jeff D. Stewart of The Bell Law Firm in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Carrie L. Webster.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 14-C-1903
Man blames hospital for wife's death
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