Guardian sues care center over alleged negligence

A Galveston County woman is suing a nursing home and its management company over claims they provided negligent care for a 54-year-old man under the plaintiff’s legal guardianship.

Joannie Cook, as legal guardian of Gilbert Michael Melancon, filed a lawsuit Dec. 29, 2014, in Galveston County District Court against Harbourview Care Center Inc. and Regent Management Services, Limited Partnership, citing lack of adequate treatment for Melancon, a bedridden patient with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, seizure disorder and other medical problems.

According to the complaint, sometime on or about Nov. 18, 2012, Melancon, a severely disabled, bedridden resident at Harbourview, was injured while his clothes were being changed. But the the incident was not reported until the next morning when an aide noticed he could not sit up in bed or move his left leg, the suit states, and an examination later that day revealed he had a fractured left hip and femur. The complaint alleges negligence on the part of employees at the center.

The plaintiffs seek damages between $200,000 and $1 million. They are represented by attorney Mark J. Wojciechowski of Wojciechowski & Associates in Spring.

Galveston County District Court case number: 14-CV-1348