SHREVEPORT – Arcadia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the defendant in a wrongful death suit, is petitioning to move the case from the Second Judicial District Court to the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division.
In the original claim, Jennifer Jones, individually and on behalf of the estate of her mother, Jewel Walker, filed a lawsuit Nov. 12, 2015, in the Second Judicial District Court against Arcadia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center LLC, doing business as Willow Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center LLC, and its co-owners, DTD HC LLC and D&N LLC, alleging wrongful death, survival and breach of contract.
According to the original complaint, the defendants allegedly failed to provide reasonable care to Walker, a resident of Arcadia from 2006 to until her death on March 13, 2015. In the motion to move the case to from state court to the Western District, Arcadia cites a diversity of citizenship between the plaintiff and defendant – Arcadia’s parent is based in New York, whereas Jones is in Louisiana – as the basis for the change of venue. The petition also notes the name "Willow Ridge" is invalid.
Jones seeks damages in excess of the jurisdictional minimum of $75,000. She is represented by Shreveport attorney Georgia Kosmitis of the Law Offices of Gia Kosmitis. Arcadia is represented by Ronald E. Raney of the Shreveport firm Lunn, Irion, Salley, Carlisle & Gardner. The notice of removal was filed Dec. 31.
Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division Case number 5:15-CV-02910