PITTSBURGH – An Ohio couple has filed suit against a Wyndham hotel because they say the wife-plaintiff was potentially exposed to HIV when she was struck with a hypodermic needle that had been left in her bed.
Dr. Elizabeth L. Bonds and Bryan Timpe of Columbus, Ohio filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on May 29 versus Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center of Pittsburgh and RLJ Lodging Trust, of Bethesda, Md.
“On Dec. 9, 2018, Dr. Bonds was an overnight guest at the Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center, staying in Room 229. When Bonds proceeded to get into the bed, she felt a pain in her left foot. Bonds removed her sock and discovered that the tip of a hypodermic needle was stuck in her foot. Bonds notified hotel management and an incident report was completed,” the suit states.
“Immediately following the incident, Bonds went to the emergency room at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to seek treatment. The emergency room doctors noted that Bonds was at high risk of exposure to HIV or other blood-borne pathogens, given that the hypodermic needle was a hollow-bore needle. As a result, the doctors ran various lab tests and started Bonds on post-exposure prophylaxis medication. Bonds was discharged and ordered to follow up with her primary care physician within three to five days.”
When Bonds returned to Columbus, Ohio, Bonds followed up with her primary care physicians to continue treatment to prevent the transmission of HIV or any other blood-borne pathogens to which she may have been exposed. The prophylaxis consisted of a 28-day regimen, and Bonds had to wait several months before she knew that she had not contracted HIV or any other pathogens.
Bonds further consulted a psychologist for stress and anxiety related to the incident with the concealed hypodermic needle, the potential exposure to life-threatening diseases and the long wait before discovering whether she had contracted any of the life-threatening diseases. The total cost of these medical expenses was more than $15,000.
For counts of negligence and loss of consortium, the plaintiff is seeking damages, jointly and severally, for compensatory damages in excess of $35,000, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, attorney’s fees, costs and for all and any other relief the Court deems just and proper.
The plaintiffs are represented by J. Michael Baggett of McCann Garland Ridall & Burke, in Pittsburgh.
The defendants have not yet obtained legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-20-006198
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com