Whitney v. Holland Retirement Center, Inc.

Tom Glaze, Justice.

Leo Whitney, eighty-one years old, had been a patient at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fayetteville, but afterwards was discharged and transported directly to the appellee Holland Retirement Center. During his stay at Holland, Leo left the premises sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., was unable to reenter the building because of locked doors, and died of hypothermia as a result of exposure to sub-freezing temperatures. Leo’s estate and certain family members brought suit against Holland, alleging Holland negligently (1) failed to instruct Leo on how to…