NEW ORLEANS – Surviving family members have filed suit against an ambulance company alleging the company used a vehicle in such deplorable condition that it led to the death of their mother.
Daniel Paul Harrington and Arthur J. Harrington filed suit against Care Ambulance Service Inc. and Acadian Ambulance Service of New Orleans LLC in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on June 9.
The plaintiffs claim that the vehicle used in the transport of their ailing mother was in such a deplorable condition that it led to her contracting decubitus ulcers, or it aggravated existing decubitus ulcers, which then resulted in her death. The plaintiffs allege the vehicle used by the defendant to transport the plaintiffs’ mother for six hours was not fit in that it caused for a very rough transport and was not air-conditioned. The plaintiffs claim to have witnessed first-hand the severe decubitus ulcer that developed following the transportation by the defendant.
The defendant is accused of failing to provide safe and secure transport, subjecting a patient who was in a weakened state to transport in vehicle which was in deplorable condition, and providing a vehicle for transport of the patient in a vehicle that was not air-conditioned, all of which the plaintiffs claim led to the untimely death of their mother.
The plaintiff is seeking an unknown amount in damages for the wrongful death, mental and physical pain suffered and loss of companionship.
Daniel Paul Harrington and Arthur J. Harrington are represented by Michael J. Samanie from the firm of Samanie & Stipelcovich in Houma.
The case has been assigned to Division D Judge Lloyd J. Medley.
A representative with Acadian Ambulance Service of New Orleans said the case against them has since been dismissed.
"Acadian Ambulance Service was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiffs in this case having been erroneously named. Acadian Ambulance Service had no involvement in this transport," Allyson Pharr, executive vice president for Acadian, said.
Case no. 2014-05663.
Family files wrongful death suit against ambulance providers
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