PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh nursing facility is facing a wrongful death claim after a wheelchair-bound patient died from falling down a staircase.
The Estate of Alexandra Kozak by administrator Roman Kozak filed a complaint March 9 in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against Norbert Inc., individually and doing business as Norbert Residential Care Facility, alleging negligence and wrongful death.
The plaintiff alleges in his suit that on July 21, 2020, Alexandra Kozak died due to falling down the steps at the Norbert Residential Care Facility in Pittsburgh. He claims that Kozak, who became a resident of the facility in the fall of 2020, suffered numerous falls while under the facility's care despite knowing of her high fall risk.
The plaintiff further claims that Kozak was found at the bottom of a staircase with her wheelchair sitting at the top of the staircase, which caused her to suffer a fractured vertebra in her cervical spine. He alleges Norbert's negligence for failing to take necessary steps to prevent Kozak's fall, for failing to notify "upper management" in a reasonable time period regarding Kozak's fall and for failing to sufficiently monitor its residents. The plaintiff also alleges Norbert was negligent for failing to have sufficient staffing, training, have correct documentation in Kozak's patient record or have door alarms to alert staff.
The plaintiff seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Kenneth Fawcett of Bowers Fawcett & Hurst LLC in Ambridge.