Lubbock County ME Backlog Slows Wrongful Death Claim

Carlson Law Firm Clients Unable to Move Forward with Lawsuit Without Death Certificate

Lubbock, Texas — Stephanie Loughborough lost her father four months ago because of a faulty rollator. She sought the help of Carlson Law Firm attorney Russell Shrauner to represent her in a wrongful death lawsuit to hold healthcare device company responsible for their defective product. However, moving forward with the lawsuit was slowed to a complete stop after months of misinformation from the Lubbock County Medical Examiner’s Office.

“Every time I called the Lubbock County Medical Examiner’s Office, they gave me the runaround and I didn’t get any answers,” Stephanie said. “When I found out there were more than 400 cases backlogged, I was blown away. But I finally had an answer to all of my questions.”

Stephanie and her family have been trying for months to bring a claim against the maker of the rollator she believes is responsible for her father’s death but is unable to do so without this key piece of information.

“I want to help this family hold the company that we believe is responsible for their father’s death accountable,” Shrauner said. “However, I am unable to do that without the death certificate.”

Robert Loughborough, passed away earlier this year. On the morning of June 15, Robert fell when the wheel from his rollator buckled and the wheel snapped. He laid tangled in the faulty device for two hours until his son arrived to check on him and called for an ambulance. As a result of the defective rollator, our client’s father was admitted to UMC where he eventually died.

More than four months after her father’s death, Stephanie is still waiting on his death certificate. In addition to the hold on her lawsuit against the medical device company, she is unable to collect on her father’s accidental death policy because of the backlog.

“There are real consequences when things get so out of hand,” Shrauner said. “It has impacted my client, and it has taken a toll on my ability to represent her. I hate to imagine how many others have had their lives put on hold for such a disaster.”

For now, all Stephanie and her grieving family can do is wait.

About The Carlson Law Firm

Russell Shrauner is a Lubbock-based up and coming personal injury attorney. The Carlson Law Firm is a Texas-based national law firm committed to providing exceptional legal services in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, dangerous drugs and defective products, mass torts, bankruptcy, family law, criminal defense, military criminal defense, nursing home abuse, and consumer protection. The Carlson Law Firm has been successfully representing clients for over 40 years with 12 offices across Texas.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2018
Media Contact: Kazia Conway
kconway@carlsonattorneys.com

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