{Charleston, West Virginia}...On Thursday, Kanawha Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib plans to revisit a $91 million jury verdict against Heartland of Charleston. Lawyers for the nursing home's parent company, Manor Care Inc., have asked Judge Zakaib to throw out the verdict, reduce the damage award or grant a new trial. The son of 87 year old Dorothy Douglas sued Manor Care and related companies after she died. Douglas had been transferred from Heartland on September 23, 2009 when she died October 11th. The son, Tom Douglas, alleged negligent treatment of his mother while she was at Heartland caused her death. The 2011 jury agreed, awarding $11.5 million meant to compensate Douglas' heirs and $80 million to punish the defendants for their conduct. Zakaib later reduced the damages by $400,000.
