Cooksey
Christus Health Southeast Texas has filed a motion to compel discovery in a suit claiming a man died after a doctor at a Christus hospital failed to take appropriate measures following surgery.
Linda Lowe, Amanda Lowe, Melissa Lowe and Laura Singletary filed a lawsuit June 27, 2011, in Jefferson County District Court against Christus Health Southeast Texas, doing business as Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth, and Dr. Steven K. Sooudi.
Court records show that on Aug. 1, Christus filed a motion to compel complete answers to interrogatories and response to requests for production.
The plaintiffs were served on June 4 but have since objected to the discovery requests.
Christus requests documents pertaining to communications with Medicare concerning its conditional payments – critical information if the parties are to enter into negotiations, the motion states.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim their husband and father, Arthur Lowe, was admitted to Christus St. Elizabeth in Beaumont on June 27, 2009, with complaints of recurrent chest pains.
However, during surgery, doctors discovered Arthur Lowe's artery walls had separated and stopped the anticoagulant, the complaint says.
On July 1, 2009, Arthur Lowe's hemoglobin and hematocrit levels had fallen very low and his heart rate continued to increase, the complaint says. Transfusions did little to stop Arthur Lowe's hypotensive, tachycardic and anemic state, the plaintiffs claim.
According to the complaint, at 9 p.m. on July 1, 2009, Arthur Lowe died.
The plaintiffs seek a judgment within the jurisdictional limits of Jefferson County District Court, plus pre- and post-judgment interest at the legal rate, costs and other relief the court deems just.
Clay Dugas and Mike Jacobellis of Beaumont represent them.
Christus is represented by Orgain Bell & Tucker attorney Curry Cooksey.
Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court, is assigned to the case.
Case No. A190-411