Prospect, Louisville Nursing Homes Sued Over Wongful Death Of Patient

Online, May 13, 2010 (Newswire.com) - A Louisville woman has filed a lawsuit against two area nursing homes on behalf of her mother, who suffered abuse and neglect before her untimely death.

Nadine Murakawa brought the lawsuit, filed April 14, 2010, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, against Britthaven of Prospect and Christopher East Health Care Center.

Murakawa's mother, Betty Blanton was admitted to Britthaven of Prospect, 6301 Bass Road in Prospect, on August 8, 2008. She was there for two days when she fell and broke her leg. The nurse on duty when Blanton fell heard the bed alarm go off, but was "too busy" to check on her right away. The break was so bad it required surgery.

After the hospitalization, Blanton went to Christopher East Health Care Center, 4200 Browns Lane in Louisville, on Aug. 21, 2008. She remained there until her death on Oct. 7, 2008. While there, Blanton "suffered accelerated deterioration of her health and physical condition beyond that caused by the normal aging process" including falls, infections, pneumonia, mediation errors and pain.

Blanton endured "unnecessary loss of personal dignity, extreme pain and suffering, hospitalizations, degradation, mental anguish, disability, and disfigurement," all of which were caused by the wrongful conduct of the staffs and administrators at both facilities, according to the lawsuit. As a result, Betty Blanton incurred significant medical expenses, suffered embarrassment and physical impairment, and incurred funeral expenses.

Murakawa hired Wilkes & McHugh, P.A., a civil litigation law firm with 25 years of experience in nursing home abuse cases, to represent her. Attorney Rick Circeo is handling the case.