Raleigh Co. man sues over injuries

CHARLESTON -- A Raleigh County man is suing Raleigh Center after he was injured while he was a resident.

Genesis Healthcare Corporation; Genesis Health Ventures of West Virginia, LP; and Genesis Eldercare Rehabilitation Services, Inc. were also named as defendants in the suit.

On Nov. 30, 2010, Larry Michael Collins was transported by ambulance from Ruby Memorial Hospital and was admitted to the Raleigh Center for physical and rehabilitation therapy, according to a complaint filed May 26 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Collins claims it was determined that he would require the assistance of two or more people for transfer and that the transfers should be performed with the aid of a Hoyer lift.

On Dec. 8, 2010, a staff member entered Collins' room alone for the purpose of transferring him from his patient bed to a wheelchair by means of the Hoyer lift, according to the suit.

Collins claims during the improper and unsafe transfer, the staff member lost control of the Hoyer lift and caused him to fall and sustain serious and permanent injuries.

The defendants failed to follow the applicable standard of care by only having one staff member instead of at least two helping to transfer Collins, according to the suit.

Collins claims the defendants also failed to provide a safe and proper Hoyer lift transfer and caused him to be injured.

The defendants caused Collins to receive permanent and severe injuries because of their negligence, according to the suit.

Collins is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is being represented by C. Benjamin Salango and Dan R. Snuffer.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-867