HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-5138IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
No. j l3W c, ,, P 2005-
Civil Action - (X) Law
( ) Equity
DALE SMEAD and SUSAN H. SMEAD
Plaintiffs
:CENTRAL PA MRI, INC.
:d/b/a MAGNETIC IMAGING CENTER,
Defendant
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
PRAECIPE FOR WRIT OF SUMMONS
TO THE PROTHONOTARY OF SAID COURT:
Please issue writ of summons in the above-captioned action.
X Writ of Summons shall be issued and forwarded to
(x )Attorney ( )Sheriff
A,"
April L. Strang-Kutay, Esquire Signat e of Atto ey
Goldberg Katzman, P.C.
P.O. Box 1268
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1268
Supreme Court ID No. 46728
(717) 234-4161
Name/Address/Telephone No. of Attorney
Date: Lyc
WRIT OF SUMMONS
TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S):
YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE-NAMED PLAINTIFF(S) HASH VE COMMENCED
AN ACTION AGAINST YOU.
Prot onota
Date: By
Deputy
( ) Check here if reverse is issued for additional information
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DALE SMEAD and SUSAN H.
SMEAD
Plaintiffs
V.
CENTRAL PA MRI, INC.
d/b/a MAGNETIC IMAGING
CENTER,
Defendant
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
No. 5138 Civil 2005
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICE
I, Randolph G. Zacour, hereby accept service of the Writ of Summons filed on upon
Central PA MRI, Inc. d/b/a Magnetic Imaging Center, Defendants in the above-referenced
matter.
Date: , 2005
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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
DALE SMEAD and SUSAN H. SMEAD
Plaintiffs
vs. No. 5138 Civil 2005
CENTRAL PA MRI, INC., Civil Action - Law
d/b/a MAGNETIC IMAGING CENTER,
Defendant
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
NOTICE
YOU HAVE BEEN SUED IN COURT. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in
the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after this Complaint and Notice are
served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the Court
your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to do so
the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the Court without
further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint or for any other claim or relief requested by the
Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT
HAVE A LAWYER OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET
FORTH BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL HELP.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
32 S. Bedford Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
Telephone: (717) 249-3166 or 1-800-990-9108
NOTICIA
Le han demandado a usted en la corte. Si usted quiere defenderse de estas demandas expuestas
en las paginas siguientes, usted tiene viente (20) dias de plazo al partir de la fecha de la demanda y la
notificacion. Usted debe presentar una apariencia escrita o en persona o por abogado y archivar en la
corte en forma escrita sus defensas o sus objectiones a las demandas en contra de su persona. Sea
adisado que si usted no se defiende, la sin previo aviso o notificacion y por cualquier quja o puede perder
dinero o sus propiedades o otros derechos importantes para usted.
LLEVE ESTA DEMANDA A UN ABOGADO IMMEDIATAMENTE. SI NO TIENE
ABOGADO O S1 NO TIENE EL DINERO SUFICIENTE DE PAGAR TAL SERVICIO, VAYA EN
PERSONA O LLAME POR TELEFONO A LA OFICINA CUYA DIRECCION SE ENCUENTRA
ESCRITA ABAJO PARA AVERIGUAR DONDE SE PUEDE CONSEGUIR ASISTENCIA LEGAL.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
32 S. Bedford Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
Telephone: (717) 249-3166 or 1-800-990-9108
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
DALE SMEAD and SUSAN H. SMEAD
Plaintiffs
vs.
CENTRAL PA MRI, INC.,
d/b/a MAGNETIC IMAGING CENTER,
Defendant
No. 5138 Civil 2005
Civil Action - Law
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
COMPLAINT
Now comes the Plaintiffs, Dale Smead and his wife, Susan H. Smead, by and through their
attorneys, Goldberg Katzman, P.C., who respectfully represent as follows:
PARTIES TO THE CAUSE OF ACTION
1
2.
Plaintiffs Dale and Susan Smead, husband and wife, are adult individuals who reside at 5
Lincoln Cove, East Berlin, Pennsylvania.
Defendant Central PA MRI, Inc., d/b/a Magnetic Imaging Center, is a professional
corporation organized and doing business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
located at 4665 Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
3
On or about October 5, 2003, Plaintiff Dale Smead, underwent MR imaging at the
Central PA MRI Center, located on Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg, PA.
4. That during the course of the imaging procedure, Plaintiff was not given ear plugs to
protect his hearing from the repeated loud sounds associated with this technique.
During the conduct of the test, Plaintiff complained to the technician about the loud
noise, and was at that point advised that the test was nearly complete; however the testing
and the noise continued for a considerable period after that conversation.
6. That as a result of this unprotected exposure to the repeated noises which occur during
this imaging technique, Plaintiff experienced severe ringing in his ears which continued at
the conclusion of the test.
7. That Plaintiff continued to experience severe ringing in his ears which persisted, as well
as dimunition in his hearing.
8. That Plaintiff's diminished hearing gradually improved somewhat, but that the ringing or
tinnitus persisted, provoking a January 2004 audiogram test which revealed a bilateral
high frequency loss associated with noise-induced hearing loss.
9. That Plaintiff has experienced ongoing tinnitus and hearing losses in both ears as a result
of his unprotected exposure to loud noise during the October 2003 MR imaging. The
persistent tinnitus has been severe, and life-disrupting to the extent that Plaintiff has
sought evaluation at a speciality center in Portland, Oregon.
COUNTI
DALE SMEAD VS. CENTRAL PA MRI. INC.,
d/b/a MAGNETIC IMAGING CENTER
NEGLIGENCE
10. The averments contained in paragraphs 1 - 9 are hereby incorporated by reference.
2
11. At all times relevant to the subject matter of this Complaint, Plaintiff Dale Smead was a
patient at the Central PA MRI, Inc., receiving evaluation based on their specialty of
magnetic imaging services.
12. That the Defendant and their operators/technicians at Central PA MRI, Inc., were
negligent in the treatment and evaluation of the Plaintiff in that:
a. Operators/technicians who administered the magnetic imaging study failed to
provide the Plaintiff with ear plugs to protect his hearing during the conduct of the
test; and
b. Operators/technicians who conducted the magnetic imaging study failed to
interrupt the test to provide hearing protection, even after Plaintiff's complaints
about the severity of the noise levels.
13. That as a result of the negligent conduct described in the preceding paragraph, Plaintiff
was exposed to extreme noise levels over an extended period of time, with increased risks
of damage to his hearing and auditory function.
14. That as a result of the negligent conduct described in the preceding paragraph, Plaintiff
suffered unnecessary and preventable hearing and auditory damage following the October
2003 MRI study.
15. That as a result of the negligent conduct described in the preceding paragraph, Plaintiff
suffers ongoing and unrelieved tinnitus.
16. That as a result of the negligent conduct as described above, Plaintiff has been caused to
incur additional medical expenses and may incur future medical expenses in relation to
3
continued treatment for complications associated with his ongoing tinnitus and reduced
hearing, and the complications which have ensued.
17. That as a result of the negligent conduct as described above, Plaintiff has been exposed to
potential dimunition of earnings in the future secondary to his continued tinnitus.
18. That as a result of the negligent conduct as described above, Plaintiff has been caused to
sustain, and will in the future, continue to sustain pain, suffering, inconvenience,
emotional distress, embarrassment and loss of life's pleasures.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against the Defendant Central PA MRI, Inc.,
d/b/a Magnetic Imaging Center, for a sum in excess of $35,000.00, together with interest and
costs.
COUNTI
SUSAN SMEAD VS. CENTRAL PA MRI INC
d/b/a MAGNETIC IMAGING CENTER
LOSS OF CONSORTIUM
19. The averments contained in paragraphs 1 - 18 are hereby incorporated by reference.
20. That as a result of the conduct of the Defendants, described in paragraph 12 above, Susan
Smead, wife of Dale Smead, has sustained damage as a result of loss of services,
guidance, companionship, society, affection and consortium of her husband.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs demand judgment against the Defendant Central PA MRI, Inc.,
d/b/a Magnetic Imaging Center, for a sum in excess of $35,000.00, together with interest and
costs.
Date: / 1 r1-1 8
GOLDBERG KATZMAN, P.C.
.?•? / .K
By
April L trang-Kutay, e
Supreme Court ID No. 46728
600-A Eden Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 509-6141
5
VERIFICATION
I, Dale Smead, hereby acknowledge that I am a Plaintiff in this action and that I have read
the foregoing document and that the facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of my
knowledge, information and belief.
I understand that any false statements herein are made subject to penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. §
4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
Dale Smead
Date: ?- ? 09
I
6
VERIFICATION
I, Susan H. Smead, hereby acknowledge that I am a Plaintiff in this action and that I have
read the foregoing document and that the facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of
my knowledge, information and belief.
I understand that any false statements herein are made subject to penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. §
4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
Date:
r ?
Susan H. Smead
7
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that I served a true and correct copy of the foregoing document
upon all parties or counsel of record by depositing a copy of same in the United States Mail at
W Lancaster, Pennsylvania, certified mail with first-class postage prepaid on the '2jD_ day of
AmiiAIJA
2008, addressed to the following:
Gena Gustin,
Claims Manager
CNA Health Pro
P.O. Box 489
Owings, MD 20736
By: "_ 6 a
Glenda J. Ebersole,
Legal Secretary for
April L. Strang-Kutay, Esquire
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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
DALE SMEAD and SUSAN H. SMEAD
vs.
Plaintiffs
No. 5138 Civil 2005
CENTRAL PA MRI, INC., Civil Action - Law
d/b/a MAGNETIC IMAGING CENTER,
Defendant
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT AS TO CENTRAL PA MRL INC.,
d/b/a MAGNETIC IMAGING CENTER
I, April L. Strang-Kutay, Esquire, certify that:
Dan appropriate licensed professional has supplied a written statement to the undersigned
that there is a basis to conclude that the care, skill or knowledge exercised or exhibited by
this Defendant in the treatment, practice or work that is the subject of the complaint, fell
outside acceptable professional standards and that such conduct increased the risk of
harm or was a cause in bringing about the harm;
AND/OR
? the claim that this defendant deviated from an acceptable professional standard is based
solely on allegations that other licensed professionals for whom this defendant is
responsible deviated from an acceptable professional standard and an appropriate licensed
professional has supplied a written statement to the undersigned that there is a basis to
conclude that the care, skill or knowledge exercised or exhibited by the other licensed
professionals in the treatment, practice or work that is the subject of the complaint, fell
outside acceptable professional standards and that such conduct was a cause in bringing
about the harm;
OR
? expert testimony of an appropriate licensed professional is unnecessary for prosecution of
the claim against this defendant.
Date: 0 8 ZA - )
April Strang- to , uire
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that I served a true and correct copy of the foregoing document
upon all parties or counsel of record by depositing a copy of same in the United States Mail at
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, certified mail with first-class postage prepaid on the Gmay of
2008, addressed to the following:
Beverly Morgan
CNA Health Pro
P.O. Box 489
Owings, MD 20736
By.
Glenda J. Ebersole,
Legal Secretary for
April L. Strang-Kutay, Esquire
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