Hospital Wins Civil Jury Trial

On May 4, 2010, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the Wadsworth-Rittman Area Hospital in a lawsuit where the hospital in a personal injury lawsuit. Brenda Hill alleged that she was a patient at the hospital and during her discharge from the hospital the nurse who was helping her to her car was negligent. Her husband also sued for a loss of consortium.

Mrs. Hill alleged that the nurse was negligent in not making sure that the wheelchair's footrests were up before Mrs. Hill attempted to get out of the chair. Mrs. Hill alleged that the nurse stopped to help another patient and when Mrs. Hill got up, she tripped over the footrests.

The jury was impaneled in April, but because Mrs. Hill became ill during the first day of trial, the case was recessed until May 4, 2010. At the time of the continuance, the jury had been selected but had not yet heard opening statements. The trial lasted a day and a half, with the jury being instructed and deliberating on Tuesday, May 4.

Although Judge James Kimbler presided over the jury selection, the parties agreed that the trial could be conducted by another judge since Judge Kimbler was on vacation the week of May 3. The Ohio Supreme Court assigned retired judge Ted Schneiderman, formerly of the Summit County Common Pleas Court to