A shocking incident at a Pittsburgh hospital has led to a significant lawsuit, with allegations of negligence that could have far-reaching implications. On September 6, 2022, Yvonne Troesch and her husband Donald filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against Allegheny Health Network and West Penn Allegheny Health System, Inc., doing business as Allegheny General Hospital.
The plaintiffs, represented by attorneys Bernard R. Rizza and William D. Snow from Frischman & Rizza, P.C., allege that Yvonne Troesch suffered severe injuries due to unsafe conditions at the hospital. According to the complaint, Yvonne was visiting her hospitalized mother when she slipped on what is believed to be a residual cleaning substance left on the floor by the hospital's janitorial staff. The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m., and there were no warning signs or notices indicating the presence of such hazardous conditions.
Yvonne claims that after her fall, she experienced immediate pain in her right shoulder, head, and neck. Despite seeking treatment at the Emergency Department the following day, her injuries persisted. The complaint further alleges that approximately ten minutes after Yvonne's fall, a nurse also slipped in the same room due to the same dangerous condition. Hospital staff reportedly admitted that they were aware of these hazardous conditions prior to Yvonne's accident.
The lawsuit accuses both defendants of multiple counts of negligence. These include failing to ensure safe premises for invitees like Yvonne, not mitigating known dangerous conditions, and neglecting to provide adequate warnings about such hazards. The plaintiffs argue that these failures directly resulted in Yvonne's injuries, which include damage to her right shoulder and rotator cuff, a serious concussion, neck injury, and vestibular issues affecting her left inner ear.
In addition to physical pain and suffering, Yvonne claims she has endured significant inconvenience and may face future medical treatments. The complaint also states that she has suffered loss of earnings and impairment of earning capacity due to her injuries. As a result of these alleged negligent actions by the defendants, Donald Troesch is claiming loss of consortium—loss of his wife's aid, comfort, assistance, companionship—due to her debilitated condition.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages exceeding the arbitration jurisdictional limits of the court for each count against both defendants. They demand compensation for medical expenses incurred and potential future costs related to ongoing treatments resulting from this incident.
This case will be closely watched as it progresses through the legal system. It raises critical questions about hospital safety protocols and their implementation. Attorneys Bernard Rizza and William Snow represent the plaintiffs in this matter.