Mason County nursing home found guilty of negligence, recklessness

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — A Mason County nursing home was found guilty of negligence and recklessness Wednesday.

Pleasant Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation, a subsidiary of Pleasant Valley Hospital, Inc., was found guilty of negligence and recklessness and returned a $905,000 verdict against the nursing home, according to a news release.

The release said verdict includes $305,000 in punitive damages.

The verdict was reached in the case of Gladys Gerlach, 72, of Letart, who died at the nursing home on Dec. 24, 2012.

According to the release, Gerlach suffered from dysphasia and esophageal stricture and was not to be served a regular diet. She was also supposed to be supervised while eating and drinking and was not to be reclined while eating.

On Dec. 24, 2012, three days after entering Pleasant Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation, the release said she was served carrots and a hamburger and allowed to eat unsupervised in a reclining position.

The release said the jury found that Gerlach choked to death and her death was not discovered for two hours.

The jury also found that Gerlach was given pain and anti-anxiety medications that she was not supposed to get.