Friendswood, Pasadena residents sue over mother’s death

An estate is suing over claims a Bellaire resident and West U medical clinic failed to properly monitor a family member who developed extreme toxicity to a prescription drug.

Friendswood resident Kent Ballard, Judith Connors, Pasadena resident Gary Ballard and Thomas Ballard, on behalf of the deceased Margaret Ballard’s estate, filed a lawsuit on Aug. 31 in the Harris County District Court against Bhakti Khatri, M.D. of Bellaire, West U Medical Clinic of Houston, CVS Pharmacy, and Caremark, citing negligence.

Ballard’s estate says that on June 20, 2010, Margaret Ballard died as a result of the prescription drug Methotrexate, causing stoma titis, inflammation of her esophagus, gastritis, and internal bleeding.  

According to the brief, the defendants, who were responsible for writing and filling the Methotrexate prescription, failed to properly monitor Ballard’s reaction to the drug.

The estate is seeking wrongful death damages and court costs. It is being represented in the case by Friendswood attorney Alton Todd.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2011-52145.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.