Louisville, Ky. - Family members of a Jefferson Circuit Court judge who died from pneumonia have filed a lawsuit.
The family of the late Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Voor Montano has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baptist Hospital East, Louisville pulmonary care and two doctors, claiming they were negligent in their treatment of Montano.
Montano died of complications of pneumonia on April 21, 2008, at the age of 46.
The suit, filed yesterday in Jefferson circuit court, alleges that Baptist, Louisville pulmonary care, Dr. Kenneth Anderson and Dr. Joel Horowitz were grossly negligent, reckless and wanton in their treatment of Montano, who sought care on April 13, 2008.
The lawsuit, which was filed by Montano's husband, Joseph, and her four children, seeks punitive and compensatory damages as well as a jury trial.
Claims made in filing a lawsuit give only one side of the case.
Kit Fullenlove, a spokesperson for Baptist Hospital East, could not immediately comment.
Anderson and Horowitz, who work at Louisville pulmonary care, did not immediately return a phone call.
After her death last year, friends of Montano said she had been in the hospital for about a week but seemed to be getting better and was scheduled to resume her duties in court when she died.
Those who knew her well also said Montano had long-time health issues, including asthma, and had a lung removed when she was a child.
Montano worked more than a decade as a judge, in circuit, family and district courts. She also spent time as a staff attorney for the Kentucky court of appeals and worked in the private sector handling civil and criminal cases.
