Family of bedridden military veteran, 74, who was eaten alive by fire ants at Atlanta VA facility file wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government and pest control company
Joel Marrable, 74, an Air Force veteran living at a long-term care facility in Georgia was attacked by two waves of fire ants in the days before his death
His body was covered in more than 100 bites when staff at the VA’s Eagles’ Nest Community Living Center in Atlanta found him
Employees bathed him and moved him to a new room for three days before taking him back where he was once against attacked by the insects
By CHRISTOPHER QUINN | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Published: February 3, 2021 ATLANTA (Tribune News Service) The family of the man who died in 2019 after being repeatedly attacked by fire ants at a Veterans Affairs long-term care facility in Atlanta filed a negligence lawsuit against the federal government and Orkin, the hospital s pest control company. The civil suit, filed in federal district court Monday, asks for $7.5 million in damages and other costs. It alleges the hospital and Orkin failed to follow safe and reasonable health-care practices, sanitation and safety protocols, VA policies and adequate employee training. The Atlanta VA Health Care System said in a written response it continues to mourn the loss of Joel Marrable, the veteran, and sends deepest condolences to his family and friends. However, we do not comment on pending litigation, it added.