MOTT HAVEN, The Bronx (WABC) — A heartbroken family has officially notified the city that they intend to sue, after their loved one was beaten to death by a fellow patient at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx.
Family members were back at the hospital on Thursday, nearly two months to the day since 55-year-old Cynthia Vann was brutally beaten to death while admitted for treatment.
This time they were joined by lawyers and community activists demanding justice.
“We will not go away, we will not let this get swept under the rug. We’re here to be the consequence of what happens when injustice occurs,” said family attorney John Elefterakis.
Vann was admitted for a liver condition in September. The family got a call in the middle of the night saying the 55-year-old was going into emergency surgery.
What they didn’t know was that doctors were trying to control a brain bleed after Vann was beaten while asleep, allegedly by her roommate.
The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.
“I have not yet been told how exactly it occurred, how or what was used to damage her in such a way,” said the victim’s mother, Rosemary Vann.
On Thursday, the family filed a notice of claim, the first step in bringing a $20 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city.
Vann’s roommate had previously been arrested for assaulting a staffer at the hospital, then allegedly attacked a nurse hours after Vann had been beaten.
HHC provided Eyewitness News with a brief statement saying, “NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln is committed to the safety of its patients, staff, and visitors.”
Vann’s family says it’s not good enough.
“The hospital has not responded at all to the family. They haven’t even offered their own condolences, haven’t said anything to the family,” said civil rights leader, Kevin McCall.
“It’s very disheartening; very upsetting that you go to a place for care, and then this happens,” said the victim’s brother Melvin Vann.
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