Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02167/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02167-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Carole Ramsey
Plaintiff
Gerry Ramsey
Plaintiff
Rite Aid Corporation
Defendant

Document Text:

FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES FOR NEGLIGENCE AND LOSS OF CONSORTIUM

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GERRY RAMSEY and CAROLE 

RAMSEY,

 Plaintiffs, 

 vs. 

RITE AID CORPORATION, JAMES 

FOSTER STRENKOFSKY, and DOES 2 to 

20, inclusive, 

 Defendants. 

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Case No. C 05-02167 

FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR 

DAMAGES FOR NEGLIGENCE AND 

LOSS OF CONSORTIUM

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 Plaintiffs GERRY RAMSEY and CAROLE RAMSEY allege as follows: 

 1. Plaintiffs are, and at all times herein mentioned were, residents of the 

County of Contra Costa in the State of California. Plaintiffs are, and at all times 

mentioned herein were, husband and wife.

 2. Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and on such basis allege, that 

defendant RITE AID CORPORATION is, and at all times herein mentioned was, a 

corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and 

is and was doing business in its store located at 471 Third Street, San Rafael, Marin 

ROBERT F. EPSTEIN (SBN 154373) 

RAGGHIANTI FREITAS

A Limited Liability Partnership 

874 Fourth Street, Suite D 

San Rafael, CA 94901 

Telephone: (415) 453-9433 

Facsimile (415) 453-8269 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

GERRY RAMSEY and CAROLE RAMSEY 
FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES FOR NEGLIGENCE AND LOSS OF CONSORTIUM

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County, California.

 3. Defendant RITE AID CORPORATION is, and at all times herein 

mentioned was, in the business of compounding prescriptions and dispensing at its 

retail stores such prescriptions and other medical drugs. 

 4. Defendant JAMES FOSTER STRENKOFSKY is, and at all times herein 

mentioned was, a pharmacist duly licensed to practice his profession in the State of 

California, and a resident of the County of Marin, State of California. 

 5. Plaintiffs are ignorant of the true names and capacities of defendants sued 

herein as Does 2 to 20, inclusive, and therefore sue these defendants by such fictitious 

names. Plaintiffs will amend this complaint to allege their true names and capacities 

when ascertained. Plaintiffs are informed and believe and based thereon allege, that 

each of the fictitiously named defendants is negligently responsible in some manner for 

the occurrences herein alleged, and that plaintiffs' injuries as herein alleged were 

proximately caused by that negligence. 

 6. Plaintiffs are informed and believe and thereon allege that at all times 

herein mentioned each of the defendants was the agent or employee of the other 

defendants and acting within the course and scope of such agency or employment with 

the permission and consent of the other defendants. 

 7. On December 27, 2004, plaintiffs, pursuant to the provisions of Section 

364 of the Code of Civil Procedure, caused to be served on defendants a notice of 

plaintiffs' intention to commence this action. A copy of the notice is attached hereto as 

Exhibit A and made a part hereof. 

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION

(Negligence)

 8. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 8 of this 

Complaint as though fully set forth herein. 

 9. On or about July 19, 2004, plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY was under the care 

of Dr. David Ogden, who is, and at all times mentioned herein was, a medical doctor 
FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES FOR NEGLIGENCE AND LOSS OF CONSORTIUM

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duly licensed to practice his profession in California. 

 10. On or about July 19, 2004, Dr. Ogden prescribed certain medical drugs for 

plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY, specifically generic Prozac, also known as Fluoxetine.

 11. Because defendants were engaged in the sale of prescription drugs to the 

general public, and were engaged in the filling of prescriptions for drugs for the general 

public, they owed a duty to the general public and to plaintiffs in particular to use 

reasonable care to see that the prescriptions for drugs were filled so as to be fit for 

human use. 

 12. On or about July 19, 2004, defendants negligently prepared a Fluoxetine 

prescription for plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY. Defendants placed a label on the container 

for the drug intended for plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY that identified the drug as 

Fluoxetine. However, instead of filling the container with Fluoxetine, defendants 

negligently filled the container with Fluphenazine, a dangerous and toxic narcoleptic 

drug intended solely for use in treating severe schizophrenia, a condition that plaintiff 

GERRY RAMSEY does not have.

 13. On or about July 20, 2004 and July 21, 2004, reasonably relying on the 

label and pursuant to the directions stated on the label, plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY 

consumed at least two tablets from the container.

 14. As a proximate result of the negligence of defendants, and each of them, 

plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY was hurt and injured in his health, strength, and activity 

sustaining injury to his brain, nervous system and person, all of which injuries have 

caused, and continue to cause, plaintiff great mental, physical, and nervous pain and 

suffering. Plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY is informed and believes and thereon alleges that 

such injuries will result in some permanent disability to him. As a result of such injuries, 

plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY has suffered general damages according to proof. 

 15. As a further proximate result of defendants' negligence herein alleged, 

plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY has been damaged in that he has been required to expend 

money and incur obligations, for medical services, X-rays, drugs, and sundries 
FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES FOR NEGLIGENCE AND LOSS OF CONSORTIUM

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reasonably required in the treatment and relief of the injuries herein alleged. 

 16. As a further proximate result of the negligence of defendants and each of 

them, plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY has been prevented from attending to his usual 

occupation and thereby has lost earnings to his damage according to proof. 

 WHEREFORE, plaintiffs pray for judgment as set forth below. 

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION

(Loss of Consortium) 

 17. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate paragraphs 1 through 16 of this 

Complaint as though fully set forth herein. 

 18. Prior to suffering the injuries alleged above, plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY 

was able to and did perform his duties as a spouse. Subsequent to the injuries and as 

a proximate result thereof, plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY has been unable to perform his

necessary duties as a spouse. Plaintiff GERRY RAMSEY will be unable to perform 

such work, services, and duties in the future. By reason thereof, plaintiff CAROLE 

RAMSEY has been permanently deprived and will be deprived of the consortium of her 

spouse, including the performance of her spouse's necessary duties, all to plaintiff 

CAROLE RAMSEY's damage. 

 WHEREFORE, plaintiffs pray for judgment as set forth below. 

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

 WHEREFORE, plaintiffs pray judgment against defendants, and each of them, as 

follows:

 1. For general damages according to proof; 

 2. For medical and related expenses according to proof; 

 3. For loss of earnings according to proof; 

 4. For costs of suit herein incurred; and 

 5. For such other and further relief as the Court may deem proper. 

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FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES FOR NEGLIGENCE AND LOSS OF CONSORTIUM

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DATED: August 3, 2005 RAGGHIANTI FREITAS LLP 

 By: /s/ Robert F. Epstein________________

 Robert F. Epstein 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

GERRY RAMSEY and CAROLE RAMSEY