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Andrea Morris’s days start with waiting to get out of bed. She relies on a special elevator and the help of her sons and caregivers. She requires 24/7 care and cannot even take a sip of water without assistance.
We first met Morris during the Workers’ Comp trial in the spring. We asked her what she thought of hearing her former boss, Karen Serna, testify about what happened the day Morris felt sick at work. “I didn’t like it,” she said in a strong but stuttering voice.
Serna, a nurse, took a video with her cell phone when Morris suddenly went into cardiac arrest and called 911 to report it as a seizure. Nurses and doctors at the scene did not provide oxygen or CPR until more than seven minutes after she collapsed. One doctor said under oath that he was not qualified to perform CPR.
Morris’ attorney, Keith More, said of how Nurse Serna reacted, “There were six possibilities that she recognized and should have done something about, and she did nothing.” ” he said.
We were very relieved…the judge gave a very sound sentence. City of Hope had its day in court. we got the answer we’ve been waiting for
Pam Bertino, Andrea Morris’ sister and guardian
City of Hope asked for the 911 call and video to be excluded, but the judge ruled that both “give the court an understanding of what actually happened on May 14, 2020.” was lowered.
The judge’s ruling found that Morris and her attorneys “maintained her burden of proof that her sudden cardiac arrest was industry-related and therefore arose out of and occurred in the course of her employment.” did.
“It’s such a relief,” said Pam Bertino, Morris’ sister and guardian. “I cried when I spoke to the lawyer. Then he told me the news. The judge gave a very sound sentence. City of Hope had its day in court. We got the answer we had been waiting for.”
City of Hope released the following statement:
“We respectfully disagree with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board’s decision and are considering next steps.”
These measures include the right to appeal. City of Hope has until late November to do so.
We respectfully disagree with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board’s decision and are considering next steps.
Nisha Morris, City of Hope Chief Communications Officer
“The fact that they potentially want to prolong it even longer is just torture for Andrea,” Bertino said. “We hope they do the right thing. They’re a multi-billion dollar company and they have insurance against things like this, so it’s something that needs to happen sooner or later. I We’re almost at our limit.” The end. ”
Her family has already sold Morris’ home, liquidated her 401k, and set up a GoFundMe account to help cover her annual care costs of about $300,000. There are also millions of medical liens.
The City of Hope statement further states:
“Our hearts continue to be with Ms. Morris and her family. Ms. Morris is a valued colleague and friend to the staff at the City of Hope facility where she worked. Our team will continue to support her and her family. I feel deep empathy and compassion for her” and her situation. ”
Those words ring hollow for Morris’ family, who believe he will need expensive treatment for the rest of his life. She now lives with her elderly parents, who, along with her siblings, had to buy her a special van. The future of her sons, who became caregivers, has also changed.
“She wanted to send them to college, but that is not possible with the limited funds she has left, and they are rapidly dwindling,” Bertino explained. “We’re angry because it took so long. We can’t continue like this.”
While the judge’s decision answers the question of whether it was a work-related accident, she also said that two other employees Morris worked in in the months leading up to the catastrophic brain injury suffered on the job. It also mentions hospitals. City of Hope said:
“This decision was not based on how staff responded to this event, but rather that COVID-19-related stress at Ms. Morris’ work at multiple medical centers caused her sudden cardiac arrest. It is important to note that “we respectfully disagree” with such a conclusion. ”
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