Nurse claims paramedic caused injuries during patient pick-up

A Coles County nurse claims his knee was hurt by a gurney and is suing the paramedic he says is to blame.

John White and his wife, Tonya, filed a lawsuit June 24 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Jim Shoffstall and Lifenet Inc., doing business as Arch Air Medical Service Inc.

White says the alleged incident happened in February while he working as an emergency room nurse in at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon. The nurse says he was standing near the nurses station waiting for an air ambulance medic to pick-up a patient.

Paramedic Jim Shoffstall allegedly arrived via Arch Air Medical and pushed a gurney down a hallway to retrieve the patient. White says his legs were hit by the gurney Shoffstall was pushing, allegedly causing serious injuries to both of White's knees.
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The Whites are suing Shoffstall and Arch Air Medical for negligence and loss of consortium. They seek more than $200,000 in damages for medical costs, lost wages and court fees.

Attorney Fred Johnson of Mattoon is representing the Whites.

St.Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-329