Monica Pope has filed a lawsuit against a senior living community, alleging negligence and seeking justice for her mother, Juanita Pope. The complaint was lodged on November 1, 2024, in the Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, targeting Buckingham Senior Living Community, Inc., doing business as The Buckingham Houston.
The case revolves around allegations of medical negligence and inadequate care provided to Juanita Pope during her stay at the facility from November 21 to December 10, 2022. Monica Pope claims that the defendant failed to meet the required standards of care for her mother, who had undergone hip surgery and needed specialized attention. According to the petition, "Defendant was aware of Juanita Pope's prior left hip total restorative surgery and the increased risk of falls." Despite this knowledge, they allegedly failed to provide adequate care plans or sufficient staffing to address these needs.
On December 10, 2022, while being assisted by nursing staff at The Buckingham Houston with dressing, Juanita Pope reportedly reinjured her left hip due to tight clothing forced upon her despite her protests. This incident led to severe health complications requiring immediate hospitalization at Red Duke Trauma Institute and subsequently Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital. Monica Pope asserts that this injury resulted from substandard care and negligence by the facility's staff.
The plaintiff accuses Buckingham Senior Living Community of breaching their duty of care by failing to observe and adequately tend to Juanita Pope's needs. Specific allegations include neglecting necessary medical supervision and training for their staff and violating federal and state regulations designed to protect nursing home residents. As a result of these alleged failures, Monica Pope seeks damages for physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement suffered by her mother, along with punitive damages intended to deter similar conduct in the future.
Represented by attorneys Jessica Foster and Dawn M. Smith from Smith Clinesmith LLP in Dallas, Texas, Monica Pope is pursuing economic and non-economic damages exceeding the court's minimal jurisdictional limits. The case is filed under Case ID: 2024-76848 in Harris County's 189th Judicial District Court.