HOUSTON – A Dallas-based pediatric home health services provider has been sued by an employee who alleges that it ignored her complaints about a lack of assistance in terms of physically lifting patients, recent Harris County District Court records indicate.
Joellyn Swope filed a lawsuit against Epic Health Services, Inc., doing business as Aveanna Healthcare, on Mar. 4 in the 157th District Court, stating that she was injured on May 14, 2017 while turning a semi-comatose patient for incontinence care.
The patient purportedly “lacked conscious control over her physical movement,” which caused her to shift her weight and roll onto Swope’s wrist. The plaintiff suffered a hyper-extension, according to court documents.
Swope explains that prior to the subject incident, she informed the respondent about her problems lifting the patient on her own to no avail. She was instead reprimanded for “criticizing the patient’s weight,” the original petition says.
Consequently, the plaintiff seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
Dale M. Carroll of Houston is representing Swope.
Harris County 157th District Court Case No. 2019-15601