Woman says Boone Memorial Hospital failed to maintain its property

MADISON - A Danville woman is suing Boone Memorial Hospital after she claims she was injured while on the hospital's premises.

On April 3, Delilah "Janey" Griffis was coming to Boone Memorial Hospital with her brother, who was entering the hospital through the emergency room, according to a complaint filed Nov. 1 in Boone Circuit Court.

Griffis claims it was nearly 9 p.m. when she was coming from the parking lot adjacent to the area near the emergency room entrance and she slipped, tripped and fell coming down a sloped area with no markings and tripped on an uneven sidewalk that does not meet applicable safety codes.

Because of the fall, Griffis was severely injured and hospitalized from several weeks, according to the suit.

Griffis claims the harm was foreseeable and the defendant negligently and carelessly failed to maintain the walkway, causing severe and debilitating injury all without any fault of the part of the plaintiff.

The defendant's actions were negligent in failing to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition and in failing to exercise due care in maintenance and inspection of the premises, according to the suit.

Griffis claims the defendant also failed to adequately train its personnel in the appropriate methods to inspect and maintain the premises and failed to warn of the hazards which the defendant knew or should have had knowledge of.

As a direct and proximate result of the negligence and carelessness of the defendant, Griffis continues to suffer bodily injuries requiring medical treatment and related expenses; physical pain and suffering; mental anguish; emotional distress; a diminution in the ability to enjoy life; lost wages; and general damages, according to the suit.

Griffis is seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Kathy A. Brown of Kathy Brown Law PLLC and Valentina Wheeler of Wheeler Law Firm.

Boone Circuit Court case number: 13-C-230