“Clinic to Pay After Woman’s Death”: Roanoke Times article

On July 25, 2013, The Roanoke Times reported on a case where the family of a Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore client prevailed in a wrongful death trial. The article reports that Roanoke Orthopaedic Center was found liable in the death of an 89-year-old woman in a wheelchair when she fell while standing for an X-Ray at the Roanoke, Virginia facility.

The jury awarded a total of $660,000, which included $10,000 for her funeral expenses, $50,000 for her medical bills, and $200,000 each to her three family members.

According to the article, “Although officials at the center had medical records indicating that Robertson was a fall risk, they instructed the woman to stand for X-rays taken of her spine. Robertson’s legs gave way while she was standing unassisted, and she fell, striking her head on the floor, according to the lawsuit. She died six days later at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.”

The case was handled by Gentry Locke attorneys Tony Russell and Anthony Segura. According to Russell, “This is a verdict that not only helps her children’s hearts heal, but it serves to improve medical care so that this unfortunate and preventable situation never again occurs to another family.”