Vernetta Taylor has filed a lawsuit against Armstrong Healthcare, Inc., doing business as Legend Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation - Northwest Houston, and Keystone Care LLC, alleging negligence in their care. The complaint was filed on January 31, 2025, in Harris County, Texas. Taylor claims that during her stay at the facility from November 17 to December 8, 2023, she suffered due to inadequate medical attention which led to infection and sepsis.
According to the petition filed by Vernetta Taylor, she was admitted to Legend Oaks following a knee surgery on November 17, 2023. Despite being aware of her high risk for infection due to several comorbidities including muscle weakness and hypertension, the defendants allegedly failed to provide adequate care. The petition details how Taylor's condition worsened due to negligence; for instance, it took until November 21 for staff to begin monitoring her surgical site for signs of infection despite earlier reports of bleeding. By December 9, after being discharged from Legend Oaks without proper treatment or application of necessary medical devices like an immobilizer or wound vac recommended by her orthopedist, Taylor was found to have developed sepsis and required further surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Taylor accuses Armstrong Healthcare and Keystone Care LLC of breaching their duty of care by not providing sufficient medical oversight and failing to adhere to both federal and state regulations meant to protect nursing home residents. The plaintiff argues that these failures were exacerbated by systemic issues such as understaffing and lack of proper training among staff members. "Defendants engaged in a systematic process of ensuring that their medical facility maintained the highest acuity levels possible while at the same time providing insufficient capitalization and staff," states the complaint.
The lawsuit seeks damages for physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment, and past and future medical expenses. Additionally, Taylor is pursuing punitive damages due to what she describes as gross negligence on the part of the defendants. She contends that they had prior knowledge of her risks but chose not to act appropriately.
Representing Vernetta Taylor are attorneys from Smith Clinesmith LLP: Curtis Clinesmith (State Bar No. 24079953), Jessica Foster (State Bar No. 24135026), and Lizeth Becerra (State Bar No. 24106980). The case is assigned under Case ID: 2025-06802 in the District Court of Harris County with Judge Marilyn Burgess presiding.