CHARLESTON – A Wood County man is claiming that his wife's death was a result of alleged negligence in the care she received at Charleston Area Medical Center.
According to the July 15 filing in Kanawha Circuit Court, William Cole, executor of the estate of Norma Jean Cole, filed a suit against the Charleston Area Medical Center Inc., West Virginia Board of Governors, Dr. Shadji Abu-Halimah and Dr. Luis Abraham Mata alleging breaches of the standard of care and vicarious liability.
The suit states Cole's wife, Norma, was under the defendants' care in May 2017 for complaints of pain in her leg and foot. The suit states she died May 20, 2017, of a retroperitoneal hematoma, ischemic colitis and hypotensive shock.
In his suit, Cole claims that his wife's death was due to her condition being undiagnosed for several days and that the hospital and doctors failed to provide needed care on an emergent basis. He also alleges in his suit that his wife suffered a hematoma from a procedure performed by Abu-Halimah and Mata.
Cole seeks damages for pain, suffering, mental anguish as well as for Norma Cole's medical and funeral expenses. The plaintiff is represented by David Sims of the Law Offices of David A. Sims PLLC in Vienna.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Tera Salango.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 19-c-704