Christopher H. Sherwood
GRETNA – A Jefferson Parish woman is suing a Harahan nursing home claiming she was neglected and continuously harassed by staff during her time as a resident there.
Inez Kerth filed suit against St. Joseph of Harahan, LLC and platation Management, LLC in the 24th Judicial District Court on Aug. 6.
Kerth claims she was a resident of St. Joseph's from Aug. 4 to Nov. 4, 2011 following hospitalization for sepsis and other ailments. The plaintiff alleges she was wheelchair bound during her time in the defendant's facility and that there were not enough staff members dedicated to caring for residents, which resulted in her being left in awkward positions in bed for long periods of time, including hanging out of the bed and in positions where she fell out of bed and onto the floor.
Kerth professes due to her physical treatment at the hands of staff members she developed decubitus ulcers. In addition, the plaintiff asserts that she was harassed, embarrassed, ridiculed, tormented and disrespected by the staff and employees of St. Joseph's. The plaintiff alleges that staff members also complained of the smell of her "rotting flesh" due to the ulcers and told her no one was going to help her get from her bed into her wheelchair and she would have to stay there.
The defendant is accused failing to treat the plaintiff with dignity, mental and physical abuse, failing to provide privacy in meeting the needs of the plaintiff, failing to allow the plaintiff move about at will, failing to preserve the plaintiff's personal intergrity and dignity, violations of a nursing home resident's rights and for failure to post a Patient's Bill of Rights.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, harassment, embarrassment, neglect, deprivation of patient's rights to dignity and respect and mental and physical abuse.
Kerth is represented by New Orleans-based attorney Christopher H. Sherwood.
The case has been assigned to Division L Judge Donald A. Rowan, Jr.
Case no. 717-903.