ATLANTA — It’s a day Karla McKinney told us she never imagined would come – The day her family filed a lawsuit against an Atlanta assisted living facility where her mother died of the coronavirus.
“I understand now that victims feel like they’re suffocating or drowning. To know that my mom’s last days or her last hours ended in such a way is very heartbreaking,” McKinney said.
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Her brother and three other families filed separate lawsuits against Arbor Terrace at Cascade in southwest Atlanta, claiming the facility was negligent in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
We took part in a virtual news conference with the families and their attorneys.
“Arbor Terrace simply failed to keep their premises safe and failed to prevent the contraction and flow of COVID-19,” said attorney Keith Lindsay.
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The state tells us 15 residents lost their lives to the virus at the facility.
The lawsuits allege staff members sometimes failed to wear the proper protective equipment and allowed asymptomatic workers to expose themselves to residents.
Jennifer McWhorter also filed suit after losing both of her parents at Arbor Terrace at Cascade.
“We will always love and sorely miss spending quality time with our parents,” said McWhorter. “They were the rock of the family.”
Arbor Terrace officials did not directly respond to the lawsuits’ allegations but did tell us in a statement, “Our hearts and prayers go out to all of our families at Arbor Terrace Cascade. This is an exceptionally difficult time for our state and country and sadly, for our beloved residents and staff at Arbor Terrace Cascade.”
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