Second Suit Filed Over Malfunctioning Hospital Doors

Violet Parvin, who was using a walker, claims that as she was leaving the Professional Office Building at St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana, Texas, the electronic sliding doors suddenly closed due to a malfunction. According to court papers, she sustained personal injuries when the doors hit her and caused her to fall to the ground.

Parvin, a resident of Nashville, Arkansas, filed a personal injury suit in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas on February 17 naming Christus St. Michael Health System as a defendant.

The suit alleges Parvin and her daughter were leaving the medical office building after a doctor’s appointment when the malfunction occurred. Parvin claims the ensuing fall caused her to suffer injuries to her head, neck, elbow, knees, wrist, and hip. She says she continues to have issues with her vision and breathing.

The suit says a nurse and another St. Michael’s employee offered assistance and called emergency personnel, but failed to respond in a timely manner. The suit claims that a nurse had to run over to the hospital’s emergency department to retrieve assistance for Parvin.

The suit claims the electronic doors presented a dangerous condition and an unreasonable risk of harm.

The suit alleges negligence on the part of the defendant for failure to repair or remove the faulty doors, failure to properly maintain and inspect the doors, failure to determine the doors’ durability and functionality, and failure to warn.

According to the suit, the hospital failed to take corrective action, despite similar events occurring previously.

In 2005, another woman sustained personal injuries in a fall caused by the electronic doors allegedly closing on her. The family of Daisy Ora Duckett filed suit against the hospital in Arkansas’ Miller County Circuit Court in 2008.

That case was recently removed to federal court, but remanded after the judge found the plaintiff was not seeking damages in excess of $75,000, a requirement for federal court.

The hospital denied the family’s allegations and argued contributory negligence on Duckett’s part.

The hospital has yet to respond to Parvin’s allegations.

Parvin seeks damages for medical care and expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, anxiety, pain, and illness, physical impairment, lost household services, and medical monitoring and prevention costs.