AMERICUS, Ga. (WALB) - A South Georgia family has filed multiple lawsuits after the death of a loved one following a workplace accident.

54-year-old Tony Stafford died in 2023 after thousands of pounds of pallets fell on him while he was on the job in Americus.

Leslie Johnson is demanding justice on behalf of her late brother after he was gravely injured in an accident at Golden Gourmet, LLC. in 2023.

“When the accident happened on their premises, they did not call 911 for my brother. They put him in the back of a truck, took him to the hospital, and dropped him off,” Johnson said.

One lawsuit filed by attorney Joe Durham, against Golden Gourmet claims the company failed to comply with the regulations set by OSHA and knowingly allowed Stafford into a hazardous and/or unsafe area.

The second lawsuit filed by attorney Laura Shamp with Shamp Silk, LLC. against Phoebe Physician Group and two doctors, alleges negligence.

“We believe that the standard of care requires that they prescribe an anticoagulant upon discharge. It would have been very simple for them to do and we think the standard of care was clear. It should’ve been done and it would have prevented his death. The anticoagulants prevent blood clots from developing in the leg,” Laura Shamp said

The suit alleges that because Stafford was never prescribed an anticoagulant after surgery it caused a blood clot to travel from his leg to his lungs resulting in his death.

Phoebe released the following statement:

“Our legal team is currently reviewing this lawsuit and has not had an opportunity to fully analyze the claims contained within it. While HIPAA protections prevent us from discussing this medically complex case in detail, we are confident our care teams provided quality care. We are saddened any time a patient does not recover from serious illness while in our care, and our thoughts are with Mr. Stafford’s loved ones.”

Golden Gourmet, LLC had no comment.

Leslie Johnson says they settled with workers comp in March and at this time the lawsuits against Golden Gourmet and Phoebe Physician Group are currently pending.

Previous coverage:

• Albany family looking for answers in Americus man’s workplace accident death
• Family remembers man killed during Sumter Co. workplace accident
• OSHA cites Sumter Co. business for serious safety violations in workplace death

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