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A Maryville woman's family filed a wrongful death suit Thursday against Asbury Place nursing home for $10 million in punitive damages and $3 million in compensatory damages.

Three daughters of Alice Laverne Britton filed the suit, alleging instances of negligence that they believe contributed to her death.

They claim their 84-year-old mother, who was admitted to Asbury Place in 2005, didn't get proper nutritional care and was severely malnourished and dehydrated when she died in July. The suit also alleges that two unskilled student employees at Asbury dropped Britton, resulting in a broken femur that initially went untreated.

They alleged the nursing home's failure to properly monitor and prescribe medication caused the elderly woman to have severe internal bleeding.

In addition, Britton had decubitis ulcers, or bedsores, that were not treated until they were severe, according to the suit. She was placed in hospice care on May 1, and once hospice became involved the nursing home relinquished its duties, allowing Britton to "rapidly deteriorate," the family alleged.

The executive director for Asbury Inc., Teesa Brown, said the nursing home did provide appropriate care, and that they followed up with the family and the appropriate state agencies. She said at Asbury Place they are always concerned for the residents, their families, and the impact the loss of a loved one has on the family.

Brown said the organization is reviewing the lawsuit, but did not comment on specific allegations about Britton's health given patient privacy laws.

Carla Jane Woodard, daughter and representative of Britton's estate, filed the suit on behalf of her late mother under the Tennessee Wrongful Death Statute. Daughters Barbara Bierce and Lisa Rule joined Woodard in the suit. They filed the suit in Blount County Circuit Court against Asbury, Inc., doing business as Asbury Place. According to the nursing home's web site, Asbury, Inc., is a regional network of not-for-profit retirement and long-term care communities, affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.