Hurricane couple sues over son's death

CHARLESTON – A man and woman from Hurricane is suing the West Virginia University Board of Governors, Charleston Area Medical Center and a physician over the death of their newborn son.

Emerald A. Reyna and Scott W. Camarillo filed a lawsuit May 27 in Kanawha Circuit Court against WVU, CAMC and Ujjal S. Sandhu, M.D.

The plaintiffs say their son, Jacob S. Camarillo, was born on Feb. 21, 2008, at Women and Children's Hospital, which is run by CAMC.

Ujjal specializes in obstetrics and gynecology and assists and supervises the training of medical residents at Women and Children's, the lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs claim that during Jacob's birth the alleged negligence of staff at the hospital caused the boy to be born with a crushed spinal cord and other injuries.

According to the lawsuit, the boy had to undergo numerous surgeries in an attempt to keep him alive. He died on Aug. 14, 2008.

The plaintiffs say that funeral and medical expenses for Jacob have topped $365,000. They are seeking compensatory damages and legal fees.

Frank Armada is representing the plaintiffs. The case is before Kanawha Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 09-C-985