Boulder County Jury Finds in Favor of George Pappageorge in Wrongful Death Case

The Law Offices of JM Reinan, PC represented George Pappageorge in a wrongful death case concerning his wife, Elaine Pappageorge.  Mr. Pappageorge brought suit against Mrs. Pappageorge’s former nursing home, Boulder Manor, a facility located in Boulder, Colorado that is owned and operated by SavaSeniorCare.  The case was tried to a Boulder County jury from March 11 to March 15, 2013.

Mr. Pappageorge claimed that his wife was placed at Boulder Manor for rehabilitation following a hospitalization at Boulder Community Hospital where she underwent a gallbladder surgery.  At the time, Mrs. Pappageorge was 80 years old with a history of Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia and other long-standing health issues.

While at Boulder Manor, Mrs. Pappageorge suffered a femur fracture.  Mr. Pappageorge claimed that the femur fractured happened as result of the negligence of Boulder Manor.  The Boulder Manor staff did not chart when or how the femur fracture occurred.  Boulder Manor claimed at trial that the fracture was spontaneous and that the Boulder Manor staff did nothing to cause the fracture.  Boulder Manor’s orthopedic expert testified that Mrs. Pappageorge had severe osteoporosis and that her femur bone was so weak that it just crumbled.  Mr. Pappageorge’s orthopedic expert testified, to the contrary, that the femur fracture – which the x-rays showed to be a complete fracture across the lower part of the femur with compaction and angulation – could have only occurred with some sort of trauma, like a fall.

Mrs. Pappageorge was placed on hospice following the femur fracture and died less than a month later.  The Boulder County Coroner, Emma Hall, testified at trial that Mrs. Pappageorge died as a result of complications from the femur fracture and that the manner of her death was accidental, not natural.

The jury found that Boulder Manor was negligent and caused Mrs. Pappageorge’s wrongful death.  The jury awarded $95,000.00 in damages.