Parents sue Cabell Huntington Hospital, others for infant daughter's death

WAYNE - The parents of an infant are suing Cabell Huntington Hospital after they claim it is responsible for their infant daughter's injuries and death.

Bridget Jones and Jane Doe were also named as defendants in the suit.

On Aug. 25, 2011, Sara Summerfield delivered Violet Dempsey at Cabell Huntington Hospital with her husband and the infant's father Paul E. Dempsey III present, according to a complaint filed Sept. 23 in Wayne Circuit Court.

The plaintiffs claim prior to the delivery, the pregnancy was normal and during Summerfield's labor, it was discovered the Violet Dempsey was "face-up" and the nurses on staff, including Jones, tried to turn the baby without ultrasound guidance and without the doctor present.

When that failed, the nurses and staff called Doe, who turned the baby with great force and also without ultrasound guidance and without a doctor present, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs claim the turning of the baby was exceedingly painful for Summerfield.

"Raising the distinct possibility of a cover-up is the fact that the turning of the baby does not appear to be in any of the records kept by the hospital," according to the complaint.

The plaintiffs claim they became concerned with Violet Dempsey and brought her back to the hospital and a CT scan showed a subdural hemorrhage/hematoma.

After discovering the injury, the plaintiffs took Violet Dempsey to various other hospitals, seeking treatment, and the other hospitals effectively concluded her condition was caused by trauma, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs claim Violet Dempsey suffered greatly her entire life and passed away on Dec. 19.

The defendants' negligence caused the infant's long suffering and ultimately her passing, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Rudolph L. DiTrapano and Robert M. Bastress III of DiTrapano, Barrett, DiPiero, McGinley & Simmons PLLC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James H. Young.

Wayne Circuit Court case number: 13-C-191