By Esteban Fernandez, Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT — A resident at the John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center in Fairmont filed a 30 day intent to sue against Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Sec. Michael Caruso of the Department of Health Facilities on Tuesday.
The governor announced the sale of the Manchin Health Care Center and three other long-term care facilities to the Marx Development Group roughly two weeks ago.
“There is no statutory authority for Governor Morrisey or Secretary Caruso to abdicate their administrative responsibilities to the patients of the John Manchin Sr. nursing home and other state-run facilities by selling them to Marx Development Group or any other private corporation,” Joey Garcia, attorney for the plaintiff, Mary DeVito, said. “Proposed legislation to privatize the John Manchin facility has repeatedly failed.
“Furthermore, the Governor’s Office has failed to make public the written agreement to sell these facilities, and my client and other residents have many concerns but very little information other than a potential sales deadline of Sept. 30, 2025. The only way to protect the residents of John Manchin Sr. now is to fight this in court.”
