Woman files suit over husband's death against Altoona nursing home

PITTSBURGH - A Blair County woman recently sued the owners of a nursing home alleging they were responsible for her husband’s death while under their care.

Sylvia A. Clouser's husband, John J. Clouser, was admitted to the Golden Living Center Hill view in Altoona in April 2011 due to mobility issues and Alzheimer's/dementia. The facility is owned by Golden Gate National Senior Care, LLC and GGNSC Alltoona Hillview GP LLC.

While at the facility, John Clouser developed a skin irritation, which was allegedly improperly documented by his caretakers. Nurses noticed the decedent was bleeding from his rectum and he required emergency treatment on Feb. 17, 2013, the complaint says.

John Clouser was admitted to Altoona Hospital on Feb. 18, 2013 in septic and renal failure and was diagnosed with a perianal fistula and an ulcer, the complaint says.

Treatment, including a laparoscopic sigmoid colostomy, revealed the presence of bacteria at the wound site. He remained septic and steadily declined, dying on Feb. 21, 2013, the suit says.

Sylvia Clouser alleged in her suit, which was filed Jan. 12 in the Blair County Court of Common Pleas, that staff at Golden Living Center Hillview were negligent in the care, diagnosis, recording and communication of her late husband’s conditions, including signs of infection and ulceration.

She seeks damages for his suffering, medical costs, pecuniary loss for their three children, punitive damages and costs.

The plaintiff is represented by Elizabeth Jenkins and John Caput, of Pittsburgh.

On Feb. 5, the defendant removed the case to U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. It alleges there is a diversity of citizenship between the parties and that the amount in controversy exceeds the $75,000 threshold for federal jurisdiction.

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania case number 3:15-cv-00033