Ambulance service sued for allowing back board to fall on transportee

A woman awaiting transport to the hospital for treatment of a fall claims she was struck on the head and shoulders by a back board that belonged to the responding ambulance.

Clateria Ruffin is seeking in excess of $150,000 in damages for an incident that took place March 5, 2006 at 1200 Moreland in Belleville.

Ruffin claims Mission Care of Illinois, doing business as Abbott EMS, is negligent for failing to secure a back board to keep it from falling and striking her.

"Before plaintiff was placed into the ambulance, defendant position (sic) a large, unsecured back board in proximity to plaintiff when the back board fell and struck plaintiff in the head and shoulder," the complaint states.

According to the suit filed March 4 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Ruffin suffered physical injuries, past and future medical expenses, past and future pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

Represented by Dennis W. Shevlin of Belleville, Ruffin also claims that Abbott EMS allowed her to remain in a position where she was in danger of being struck by the back board that defendant failed to safely secure from falling and striking her.