$285,000 Settlement for Failure to Prevent Patient’s Fall at Hospital

Carolyn Parris, a 76-year-old woman suffering from dementia, was taken by ambulance to the Mary Black Health Systems Gaffney Emergency Room. She was admitted for pneumonia and identified as a moderate fall risk.

Early one morning, her bed alarm sounded, prompting the staff to come to her room where they found her in the doorway of her bathroom on the floor. An x-ray revealed that she had suffered a fractured ankle.

As a result of that injury, Parris required open reduction and internal fixation surgery and was transferred to a nursing home.

Parris’s estate sued the hospital, alleging it chose not to monitor her, provide a safe environment and follow proper protocols for a high-risk fall patient.

The defendants argued that Parris’s injuries resulted from her own negligence.

The parties settled for $285,000 plus attorney’s fees and costs.

The attorneys successfully handling this lawsuit were Mackenzie G. Archenhold and Steven Blakely Smith.

Peeler v. Mary Black Health Sys., No. 2019-CP-42-01020 (S.C. Ct. Com. Pl. Spartanburg County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling nursing home abuse lawsuits, hospital negligence cases, nursing home fall cases, surgical negligence lawsuits, and birth trauma injury cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 45 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Willowbrook, Glencoe, Highland Park, Winnetka, Melrose Park, Oak Brook, Downers Grove, Burr Ridge, Alsip, South Holland, Harvey, Tinley Park, Orland Hills, St. Charles, Geneva, Carol Stream, Chicago (Lincoln Park, Lakeview East, Albany Park, Rogers Park, Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Grand Boulevard, Wood Lawn, Jeffrey Manor, East Side, Pullman, Washington Heights, Wrightwood, Ashburn, Garfield Ridge, Brighton Park, Little Village, North Lawndale), Hillside, Hinsdale, Berkeley, Forest Park and Crestwood, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.