WINFIELD – A Putnam County couple seeks compensation after the woman was injured in the restroom at a pool party.
Sarah and Richard DeGroff filed a complaint against FMC Sportsman’s Club LLC in Putnam Circuit Court.
In the complaint, the couple from Eleanor says Sarah DeGroff was a guest at the popular sports club that includes a pool on June 12, 2013, for a child’s birthday party. She says she was washing her hands in the restroom when the sink fell off the wall and onto her left foot. They claim the sink was not properly affixed to the wall, and that this issue was not apparent to a reasonably prudent person.
“Mrs. DeGroff immediately felt intense pain in her left foot,” the complaint states. She “was unable to walk out of the bathroom and required assistance by an employee” of FMC.
After the incident, Sarah DeGroff was taken to CAMC Teays Valley Hospital for evaluation. She also was treated at Scott Orthopedic and prescribed physical therapy.
“Mrs. DeGroff languished in pain for several months after the incident,” the complaint states. “Orthopedic and physical therapy treatments were not successful. Ultimately, she was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic for specialized medical care.”
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic determined she sustained a “severe crush injury,” which is not a candidate for surgical intervention, according to the complaint. It also says she has not regained full use of her left foot and still experiences pain and limitation in range of movement.
The DeGroffs seek compensatory damages for injuries and medical costs. They also seek punitive damages, attorney fees, court costs and other relief. Richard DeGroff seeks damages for lost of consortium.
The couple is represented by Jonathan R. Mani of Mani, Ellis & Layne PLLC in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers.
Putnam Circuit Court case number: 15-C-141