GALVESTON — A family is suing a Friendswood assisted living facility, alleging their relative died due to negligence and the failure to give him emergency medical care.
Judy Zaring Devin Zaring, Karla Michelle Briley, John Landon McDuff, Daisha Martinez, Shana B. Chaka and John D. McDuff as next friend of A.M., individually and as representative of the estate of Ronald Zaring, deceased, filed a complaint Aug. 26 in Galveston County District Court against HSMTX/Friendswood LLC, doing business as Friendswood Healthcare Center, and center administrator Roland Gonzalez, alleging negligence and wrongful death.
According to the complaint, Ronald Zaring was living in Friendswood Healtchcare Center, 213 E. Heritage Drive, Friendswood on Aug. 23, 2017 during the course of Hurricane Harvey. Gov. Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency in 30 Texas counties but FHCC management determined that despite the evacuation warnings, it would not move its residents. FHCC allegedly lacked the appropriate emergency measures Aug. 26, 2017 when the storm hit. The suit states the impact was severe, including flooding ,which caused Zaring to live overnight in knee-deep water that was contaminated with feces and other pollutants.
The plaintiffs say Ronald Zaring finally was rescued from the facility but was loaded onto the wrong rescue vehicle and was transported to a Catholic church instead of the high school where other residents from FHCC were. On Aug. 29, 2017, the suit, alleges Zaring was examined by volunteer physician Dr. Lindsey Jackson, who determined that the plaintiff was septic or nearly septic and needed to be sent to the hospital.
The plaintiff, however, allegedly was not sent to the hospital but instead put on FEMA bus with other residents who were being transported to another one of the defendant's locations. Ronald Zaring the suit states, died on the bus and his family was not contacted promptly, nor did the bus stop when he died.
The plaintiffs seek trial by jury, interest, all equitable relief, attorney fees and court costs. They are represented by attorneys Russell S. Briggs of Fibich Leebron Copeland Briggs in Houston, by Frank B. Daniel of Essmyer & Daniel PC in Houston, and by Steven Thomas of McGuire, Craddock & Strother PC in Dallas.
Galveston County District Court case number 19-CV-1546