A defendant in a suit claiming a man died after a doctor failed to take appropriate measures following surgery is seeking to extend the mediation deadline in the case.
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.
On Nov. 8, Ali Alavi, another defendant in the case, filed a motion to extend mediation, stating that discovery is ongoing and the parties are not yet able to engage in meaningful mediation negotiations, court records show.
The docket control order in the case required the parties to mediate by Nov. 15.
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.
Houston attorney Kevin Oncken of Uzick & Oncken represents Alavi.
Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court, is assigned to the case.
Case No. A190-411
Defendant seeks to extend mediation deadline in med-mal claim
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY