RIPLEY – The representative of a dead man's estate is filing a wrongful death suit against an area nursing facility, claiming negligence and reckless misconduct..
Lenard Cottrell, personal representative of the estate of his father Spencer Cotrell, filed the suit June 5 in Jackson Circuit Court against Eldercare of Jackson County, doing business as Eldercare Health and Rehabilitation, Eldercare Management Associates and Michael Conaway, administrator, citing negligence, reckless misconduct and wrongful death.
According to the complaint, the deceased was admitted into the defendants' nursing facility on Sept. 5, 2013. He died on Sept. 25, 2013, after he allegedly suffered serious injuries from a pattern of poor care, neglect and abuse at the hands of the defendants' staff. The negligence and abuse led ultimately to his death, the suit claims.
In addition to a trial by jury, the plaintiff seeks all damages allowable under the law, punitive damages, court costs and attorney fees. Representing the plaintiff are Andrew L. Paternostro and Jeff D. Stewart of The Bell Law Firm of Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Thomas C. Evans III.
Jackson Circuit Court case number 15-C-80