PHILADELPHIA - The surviving children of a man who died while under the care of Fair Acres Geriatric Center in Lima are suing the center, alleging negligence by the facility.
The suit was filed by attorney Stephen J. Pokiniewski on behalf of plaintiffs Christopher Beaty Jr. and Nichole Garcia in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, according to court documents filed in April.
The suit alleges that Christopher David Beaty was a 15-year resident of Fair Acres around the time that the COVID-19 pandemic began, and that while Fair Acres began prohibiting visitors in March 2020, it was over two months after the facility went on lockdown that they began testing residents and staff, despite residents being permitted to continue to freely intermingle.
The suit also alleges that, once testing began, multiple residents tested positive for COVID-19, and Beaty’s roommate began showing symptoms of the coronavirus. However, the facility allegedly declined to move Beaty’s roommate while his test was pending.
On June 1, the same day that Beaty allegedly reached out to the plaintiffs regarding his roommate, the plaintiffs allege that Fair Acres contacted them to inform them Beaty had a low-grade fever. When both tests, which had been taken on May 29, came back on June 2, the suit alleges that Beaty’s was negative but his roommate’s was positive.
The suit alleges that, following deteriorating symptoms, Beaty was taken to Riddle Memorial Hospital on June 3, where he tested positive for COVID-19, and passed away on June 6.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, plus interest, costs and attorneys’ fees.