Nursing home blamed for woman's death

CHARLESTON - The administratix of the estate of a Kanawha County woman has filed a wrongful death suit against a local nursing home, claiming it is to blame for the woman's death.

Beverly Goldfarb filed a suit July 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Glenmark LLC, doing business as Valley Center, a long-term care facility in South Charleston.

Goldfarb claims the facility is to blame for the death of Marie Ann Gill. According to the suit, Gill, who suffered from dementia, was a resident of Valley Center on Dec. 10, 2005, when she exited the facility and fell over an embankment.

As a result of her fall, Gill had several injuries, including a brain hemorrhage, fractured hip and fractured wrist. A roofer who was working near the building found her.

Gill died as a result of her injuries Dec. 28, 2005.

Goldfarb claims in the suit that Valley Center failed to follow the applicable standard of care that Gill deserved.

Goldfarb seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney C. Benjamin Salango is representing Goldfarb. The case has been assigned to Judge Tod Kaufman.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 07-C-1392