The estate of a woman who died from methadone poisoning has filed a $5 million malpractice lawsuit in Roanoke against a Galax methadone clinic.

The lawsuit claims that Kathi Denise Currie-Brunelli died as a result of negligence after five days of treatment at the Life Center of Galax.

Tina Bullins, the center's executive director, said Wednesday that the company does not comment on pending litigation. Roanoke attorney John Lichtenstein, who filed the lawsuit Monday on behalf of William Brunelli, Currie-Brunelli's husband, also declined to comment.

The suit names as defendants Galax Treatment Center Inc., its parent company in Delaware and Dr. Maria Encarnacion, the center's medical director during the time Currie-Brunelli was treated there.

According to the lawsuit, Currie-Brunelli checked herself into the clinic April 27, 2005, seeking treatment for alcohol abuse.

The clinic put her on librium to treat her for the alcohol abuse but also placed her on methadone, even though she was not addicted to any opiate drugs such as heroin, the lawsuit states.

For the first three days of treatment, Currie-Brunelli received a dose of 30 milligrams a day, which was then increased to 40 milligrams. The lawsuit claims the amounts were excessive.

Currie-Brunelli died May 1, 2005, as a result of methadone poisoning, the lawsuit states.

CRC Health Group Inc., which operates the Galax clinic, also operates the methadone clinic at Hershberger and Cove roads in Roanoke.

-- Mike Allen