KDKA Investigators

Art Ferrar's Family Plans To Sue County

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Art Ferrar was a Pittsburgh legend and the local king of big band jazz, but his family says his song was cut short.

Ferrar -- whose real name was Ferraro -- died in February of Pneumonia, but his family says his death was caused by a bad fall at the Kane Regional Center at Ross.

The family says Ferrar -- strapped in his wheelchair -- took a terrible fall after passing through an unlocked security door and down a flight of stairs. Ferrar suffered a head injury and cuts and bruises all over his body. His family says he was forever changed.

"Afterwards, he just sat in the wheelchair, and he stop talking much, and he was crying, and this went on. He would only cry and three months later he died," said Patricia Ferraro, his wife of 54 years.

In a suit which will be filed this week -- the Ferraros say he died as a direct result of the fall -- which they say could have been prevented if the door had been properly secured. Kane and the county declined comment but did issue a statement:

"We have not seen or received a copy of the lawsuit and, therefore, cannot comment on those allegations. It is our understanding, though, that the incident described in no way caused or contributed to the death of Mr. Ferraro, and we will vigorously defend any action in that regard. Privacy regulations prevent us from commenting further regarding the medical care and treatment of residents of the Kane Regional Centers."

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