Seeking up to $1 million in damages, Frances Arredondo filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Acadian Ambulance Service on April 20 in Jefferson County District Court.
According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 8, 2016, Arredondo went to use the restroom. When she attempted to lift herself up from the commode, she found she was too weak to stand on her own.
After pushing her medical alert device, Acadian Ambulance responded and arrived at her residence with one male and female.
“With Mrs. Arredondo sitting on the commode, the male attendant asked her to cross her arms across her chest and then attempted to pull her up on his own,” the suit states. “However, during this attempt, he dropped Mrs. Arredondo and she immediately fell down to the floor next to the commode.”
During a second attempt to lift her from the floor, the man failed to use the handicap railing for support and Arredondo was dropped again, causing her to fall sideways and fracture her foot.
The suit accuses Acadian Ambulance of falling below the standard of care.
The plaintiff is represented by Houston attorney Craig Lewis.
Case No. A-199927