Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed For Woman Who Died In The Woods: The Estate of Barbara Doyle has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against The Brookfield Assisted Living and Memory Care at Highland Crossing and Brookfield Assisted Living LLC for the death of Doyle who was observed leaving the assisted living facility three hours after she arrived on August 12, 2021, and was found dead in the woods nearly two weeks later.
Barbara Doyle suffered from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease when her husband admitted her for three days so that he could attend two of their granddaughters’ first communion in another state.
The lawsuit filed against the Arkansas assisted living facility alleges that Doyle left the facility by opening an exit door that triggered an alarm. An employee of the assisted living facility allegedly heard the alarm and saw Doyle leaving through the door by herself but did not determine if Doyle was a resident or a visitor. After Doyle left, the employee allegedly locked the door and failed to notify any of the assisted living staff that Doyle had left through the door.
The body of seventy-four-year-old Doyle was found by a volunteer searcher thirteen days later in the woods a quarter-mile from the assisted living facility. An autopsy determined that Doyle died from environmental heat stress.
An investigation by the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance reportedly found twenty-one instances in which that the assisted living facility was not in compliance with regulations. The Estate’s lawsuit alleges that Brookfield was negligent by failing to implement measures to prevent Doyle from wandering off, by failing to provide adequate policies and procedures to address Doyle’s care needs, by failing to supervise its employees, by failing to comply with and follow Arkansas regulations governing facilities such as Brookfield, and by failing to provide a safe environment for Doyle.
Brookfield’s Mission Statement states in part: “Brookfield Assisted Living applies loving fundamental values and principles to our daily decision making and our residents long-term wellbeing. We demand the highest standards of care for our resident, a nurturing family atmosphere and embrace opportunities for enrichment with your loved ones … We provide a safe and secure environment for our residents with a dedicated team of skilled caregivers on duty 24/7.”
If you or a loved one suffered harm while a resident of an assisted living facility in Arkansas or in another U.S. state due to assisted living facility abuse, assisted living facility neglect, assisted living facility negligence, or the failure to provide appropriate care for a vulnerable adult, you should promptly find an assisted living facility claim lawyer in Arkansas (Arkansas medical malpractice lawyer) or in your state who may investigate your assisted living facility claim for you and file an assisted living negligence claim on your behalf or behalf of your loved one, if appropriate.
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