TALLAHASSEE - The Presbyterian Retirement Communities and Westminster Services face civil charges in the Leon County Judicial Court from a woman who says her father was not properly cared for at Westminster Oaks, according to a lawsuit filed on March 11.
Plaintiff Lucy L. Poppell's father, the deceased Elbert Poppell, was admitted to the nursing home facility in March 2019 to receive care for his advanced age.
Poppell accuses the defendants of allowing her father to become severely dehydrated on multiple occasions, causing fainting spells and hospitalization.
The decedent was admitted to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital more than once, where he was diagnosed with dehydration-related conditions as well as a pressure ulcer, the suit says.
In July 2020, the decedent tested positive for COVID-19, but the defendants allegedly refused to hospitalize him until more than a week after his diagnosis when his health had declined significantly; the plaintiff's father was hospitalized and diagnosed with dehydration, a urinary tract infection, acute kidney failure and severe sepsis. He died on August 8.
When the plaintiff came to the Westminster facility to clear out her father's belongings, she found all of her cards that she had sent to him during the pandemic unopened, as the facility did not open or read them to him, the suit says.
The plaintiff is requesting damages deemed appropriate. She is represented by Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster, Gwartney, Leace and Hobbs PA of Tallahassee.