LIMA — The administrator for the estate of a Spencerville woman who died last year is suing Coleman Behavior Health, accusing the agency of responsibility in the woman’s death.
Bonnie Doty, of Lakeview, filed the lawsuit this week against Coleman Behavior Health of Lima seeking more than $25,000 over the death of her sister, Judy Chaffee. The lawsuit said Chaffee was under the psychiatric care and treatment of Coleman.
Coleman CEO Nelson Burns said Coleman is dedicated to providing excellence in service to people with persistent, chronic mental illness and addictions but referred calls on the lawsuit to an attorney. That attorney could not be reached for comment late Thursday.
The lawsuit alleges Chaffee was under the psychiatric care or treatment at Coleman. The lawsuit alleges employees of the agency were negligent and departed from applicable standards of care in failing to properly monitor medication given to Chaffee leading up to her death on March 30, 2014, according to the lawsuit.
Chaffee suffered a medication overdose resulting in medical complications that led to her death, according to the lawsuit. She also suffered mental anguish, emotional distress, medical bills and ultimately died, it said.
The lawsuit also is brought for the benefit of Chaffee’s next of kin, according to the lawsuit. The next of kin suffered mental anguish, loss of companionship and bereavement from Chaffee’s death.
Doty said she incurred funeral and burial expenses for Chaffee, according to the lawsuit.
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