LUFKIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A wrongful death lawsuit accuses staff at a Texas facility of ignoring a man's pleas for help.
Frank Chapman filed a lawsuit June 28 in Lufkin federal court against Jennie Weisinger and the Burke Center, alleging the wrongful death of his son, Jonathan Chapman.
The suit claims that Jonathan was a resident at the Burke Center, a community center that provides mental health and residential services, and died due to gross negligence and deliberate indifference by Weisinger, an employee at the center.
According to the complaint, Jonathan vomited continuously for hours while being restrained in a reclined chair. Despite his repeated pleas for medical assistance and requests to be taken to a hospital, Weisinger allegedly refused to help him or call for medical aid.
Jonathan ultimately died from aspirating his own vomit. The lawsuit seeks damages under 42 U.S.C. §1983 for violations of Jonathan's constitutional rights.
Marisa Allen of Martin Walker represents the plaintiff.