Rita Hunter, former Jasper County public administrator, has been named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in connection with the fatal fire in November 2006 at the Anderson Guest House group home.The fire, which killed 10 group home residents and one worker, has spawned a series of lawsuits, plus federal criminal charges against owners of the group home alleging Medicaid fraud.
This suit filed Wednesday in McDonald County Circuit Court is the first to name Hunter in connection with the group home blaze. Mary Frances Joyce, the mother of Isaiah Lee Joyce, contends that her son’s death was the result of Hunter’s “careless and negligent” actions because she failed to place Joyce “in a facility that was maintained in a manner that allowed for its safe use by residents.” Hunter is named in the suit individually and in her capacity as public administrator.
Isaiah Joyce, 25, was a ward of the public administrator’s office and had been placed in the group home for the mentally disabled.
Other defendants
The suit also names Joplin River of Life Ministries, owners Robert and LaVerne DuPont, Shirley Brannon, group home administrator, and officers of the Missouri Department of Health and Social Services.
“We named her (Hunter) because she was the guardian and conservator of Isaiah, and was responsible for making decisions on his behalf. We believe she knew what was going on there and failed to have his interest in mind and failed to take him out of the facility,” said Eryn Peddicord, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., attorney who filed the suit.
Full Article and Source:
Mother of Victim of Group Home Fire Sues Former Administrator, Others w/ Wrongful Death Lawsuit
See Also:
Federal Probe of Rita Hunter Tenure
5 comments:
It's not a fair judgment to make against someone you don't know, but given Rita Hunter's history, I would agree she probably knew very well that this facility was substandard.
Good - pile it on Rita Hunter. And I hope she can't afford the attorney fees.
May the higher court deal fairly with Rita Hunter. It's unfortunate, that there is little that a family member can do to demand accountability while a victim is still alive.
Yes, Anon 2, you're right - it's a crying shame that people like Hunter aren't dealt with harshly when a family is struggling to protect their loved one.
Getting her out of the office is a big step forward, though.
Remember what Rita Hunter did to Emma France and her daughter?
And she nearly got away with it.
I am glad to see karma coming around to her.
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