Couple blames St. Mary's Medical Center for injuries

HUNTINGTON -- A Cabell County couple is suing St. Mary's Medical Center for injuries sustained in the hospital.

On March 26, 2010, Karen Clay was admitted to St. Mary's Medical Center for a cardiac catheterization, according to a complaint filed Jan. 27 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Clay claims later that day, she fell while in the bathroom unattended and was injured.

The following day Clay had x-rays taken that showed she had sustained an acute L1 compression fracture, according to the suit.

Clay claims the defendant failed to appropriately assess her risk for falls and failed to document the fall event at the time it occurred.

The defendant's negligence and carelessness caused Clay serious injuries, according to the suit.

Clay and her husband, Terry Clay, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Andrew L. Paternostro, Sprague W. Hazard and Jeff D. Stewart.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 12-C-69