Woman's estate sues Beckley nursing home

CHARLESTON - The estate of a woman who died after allegedly receiving poor care at a nursing facility has filed a wrongful death suit on her behalf.

Marie Akers filed the suit on behalf of his mother, Ola Morton, Oct. 20 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Sunbridge Pine Lodge Care and Rehabilitation, a nursing facility in Beckley.

Ola Morton, at the age of 90, was a resident at Sunbridge from Oct. 11, 2007, until her death Jan. 11, 2008.

According to the suit, Morton suffered from dementia and her cognitive and physical skills were impaired.

While under the control of Sunbridge, she suffered catastrophic injuries, disfigurement, extreme pain, suffering, mental anguish and death, the suit says.

Morton suffered a decline in activities, loss of range of motion, progression of gangrene, pressure sores, dehydration, malnutrition, infections, pain, dignity and death, the suit says.

Morton died from her injuries Jan. 11, 2008.

In the 12-count suit, Akers and the estate of Ola Morton seek general and special damages.

Attorney Michael J. Fuller is representing Akers. The case has been assigned to Judge Charles King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-2051