Son of deceased man files lawsuit against nursing home

The family of a man who allegedly died from an infected pressure ulcer seeks thousands of dollars from the nursing home where he was living.

Clyde Johnson filed a lawsuit Aug. 26 in Jefferson County District Court against Windsor NHR Partners of Beaumont, doing business as Jefferson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.  In his complaint, Clyde Johnson claims his father, TJ Johnson, was living at the Jefferson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center facility when he developed a large pressure ulcer on his lower back. 

Staff at the center, however, failed to properly treat the ulcer and failed to prevent the ulcer from getting worse, according to the complaint. For example, TJ Johnson was often left in his own urine and feces for long periods of time, the suit states.

By November 2012, the ulcer progressed to the point where it nearly extended to TJ Johnson's bone, according to the complaint.

"Eventually, Mr. Johnson's pressure ulcer became so severe and infected, that he was rushed to a local hospital to receive critical care," the suit states. "Unfortunately, Mr. Johnson never recovered from his injuries, and he died on Nov. 21, 2012, as a direct result of complications from his infected pressure ulcer."

His son blames the nursing home for causing his death, saying it negligently failed to properly monitor his physical condition and failed to properly observe and evaluate him, among other negligent acts.

Due to his father's death, Clyde Johnson endured mental anguish, lost his father's companionship and household services and incurred funeral costs, the suit states.

In his complaint, Clyde Johnson seeks actual and economic damages within the jurisdictional limits of the court, plus costs, pre- and post-judgment interest, statutory damages, exemplary damages, mental anguish damages and other relief the court deems just.

Partick W. Powers, Ernest C. Tosh and Anjulie Ponce of PowersTaylor in Dallas will be representing him.

Jefferson County District Court case number: D196-053

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Jefferson County District Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story.