Paris Named in 6th Lawsuit Over Mold Claims
Attorneys representing immune-suppressed hospital patients whose deaths were linked to mold infections have filed a sixth lawsuit against hospitals affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) where the patients were treated, and Paris Cos., which provided linens to UPMC facilities. Those linens were processed at the company’s DuBois plant in western Pennsylvania.
The attorneys who filed the lawsuit on April 20 named a seventh victim, Katherine Landman, New Castle, PA. Landman, who had leukemia, died in October 2015 after undergoing treatment at UPMC Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh. Landman contracted a mold-related sinus infection and died at home in a hospice setting, according to news reports.
The Landman family’s attorneys, Bernard Lupetin and Jerry Meyers of Pittsburgh, allege medical malpractice, wrongful death, negligence and other charges.
The lawsuits have accused Paris of negligence in that the plaintiffs contend that the patients who’ve contracted mold-related infections may have been exposed to tainted bed linens. UPMC already has settled two similar lawsuits for $1.35 million each that were filed on behalf of deceased transplant patients who died after exposure to mold infections.
The Centers for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health have not determined a source for the fungal infections, although the CDC pointed to a ventilation system in UPMC Presbyterian in some of the cases.
Paris cites the agencies’ findings as evidence that it wasn’t responsible for the mold infections. This was reiterated in an April 20 statement from Paris President and CEO David Stern. “The loss of a loved one is always a tragedy,” Stern said. “The hearts of the Paris family go out to all those who have been affected by these deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Department of Health have both said the facts don’t support the conclusion that these infections resulted from exposure to linens. We stand by these statements from our public agencies. Our products are safe. We have followed and we continue to follow protocols of the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council. Our reputation has been earned over three decades by providing safe, hygienically clean linens to more than 100 hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the region.”