Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Joan Northwood, 89, was moved into Sunrise of Granite Run after undergoing inpatient postoperative rehabilitation. Northwood, whose transfers required a Hoyer lift and two people, was allegedly not able to be transferred on frequent occasions due to staffing issues and problems with the facility’s Hoyer lift.

Approximately four months into Northwood’s stay at the facility, two care managers dropped her from the Hoyer lift during a transfer. Northwood suffered blunt force injuries to her head and neck and died of her injuries several weeks later. She is survived by her husband and three adult daughters.

Northwood’s husband filed suit against the facility’s owners and operator and its management company, alleging claims including negligence, vicarious liability, ostensible agency, wrongful death, and survival. The plaintiff asserted that the defendants had failed to properly execute Northwood’s personal care plan. Suit also alleged the defendant failed to implement fall protections or properly transfer her.

The parties settled for $500,000.

Citation: Northwood v. SZR Granite Run Al OpCo, LLC, No. 23-631 (E.D. Pa. June 29, 2023).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Alfred V. Altopiedi and Donna A. Casasanto, both of Springfield, Pa.