PRINCETON—A Raleigh County resident has filed suit on behalf of her mother against a Mercer County long term care facility claiming professional malpractice from 2013 to the present, citing broken bones and a general decline in the patient.
Donna Jean Ferrell as power of attorney for Joyce Mitchem filed suit against Princeton Memorial Company d/b/a Princeton Health Care Center in Mercer Circuit Court on July 6, asserting ordinary negligence and reckless misconduct dating to May 2013.
According to the filing, Joyce Mitchem was a resident at the defendant’s nursing home in Princeton beginning May 3, 2013. The suit states that the facility had a duty to provide the patient with the right to participate in her care plan, be free of abuse or neglect, remain informed of her condition and treatment, and receive adequate supervision in a safe environment.
The complaint states that Princeton Health Care Center violated state law by its allegedly negligent care of the patient. Court documents indicate that Mitchem suffered injuries consistent with a pattern of neglect and abuse, including multiple falls and fractures which contributed to physical and mental decline during her residency.
The suit states that the nursing home failed to provide sufficient staff, services and supervision or adequate care at acceptable professional standards, including basic needs such as food, liquid, toileting and cleaning.
Ferrell seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Andrew Paternostro and Jeff Stewart of The Bell Law Firm in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Judge Derek C. Swope.
Mercer Circuit Court case number 15-C-215_DS