A 69-year-old woman with a complex medical history has filed a lawsuit against a Pittsburgh-based nursing facility, alleging severe neglect and inadequate care. The complaint was filed by Ned Davis, Jr., as Attorney-in-Fact for Dorothy A. Fryer, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on February 23, 2024, targeting HCR III Healthcare, LLC d/b/a ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation (Pittsburgh).
The case revolves around Dorothy A. Fryer’s stay at ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation beginning March 1, 2022. According to the complaint, Ms. Fryer was admitted for long-term care but experienced significant lapses in her treatment plan that led to serious injuries. The plaintiff claims that despite Ms. Fryer's known medical conditions—including Wernicke’s dementia and obstructive sleep apnea—and her medication regimen which increased her fall risk, ProMedica failed to implement adequate safety measures.
On December 6, 2022, Ms. Fryer fell within the facility and sustained severe injuries including a comminuted and displaced intra-articular fracture of the proximal tibial extending well below the tibial tubercle. Despite her evident pain and inability to ambulate post-fall, she was not transferred to an emergency department until two days later on December 8, 2022. Diagnostic imaging confirmed multiple fractures necessitating surgical intervention.
Plaintiff Ned Davis Jr., asserts that ProMedica's negligence extended beyond this incident to systemic issues such as understaffing and failure to follow proper protocols for fall prevention and medication management. "ProMedica failed to ensure resident safety," reads one part of the complaint detailing numerous breaches of duty including failing to recognize multiple fall risk factors and not providing sufficient nursing care.
The plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages exceeding jurisdictional arbitration limits along with interest and costs of suit. They demand relief for medical expenses incurred due to the injuries sustained by Ms. Fryer as well as compensation for her pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life among other damages.
Representing the plaintiff are attorneys Elizabeth A. Chiappetta and Allison H. Greene from Robert Peirce & Associates P.C., while no specific defense counsel has been named yet in public records.