Westbury, New York — A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by a Long Island widow following a tragic incident at a local MRI center that led to her husband’s death. Adrienne Jones-McAllister claims that staff members failed in their responsibility to ensure her husband removed a heavy metal chain before entering the MRI room, where a powerful magnetic force ultimately caused a fatal accident.
The lawsuit, filed in Nassau County Supreme Court on Tuesday, names Nassau Open MRI P.C. as the primary defendant. It stems from the July 16, 2025, incident involving 61-year-old Keith McAllister, who was gravely injured after being pulled into the MRI machine due to the magnetic attraction of the 20-pound chain he wore for weight training.
According to the legal complaint, a technician called McAllister into the MRI room to assist his wife, who was undergoing a knee imaging procedure. However, he allegedly neglected to instruct McAllister to remove his heavy necklace prior to the entry. The complaint states that the chain was violently attracted to the device, pulling the man into the machine.
While still positioned on a nearby scanning table, Jones-McAllister observed the horrifying sequence of events. It is reported that she and the technician struggled for several moments to release her husband from the machine before ultimately contacting emergency services. It took nearly an hour for first responders to free him from the MRI device. McAllister was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to multiple heart attacks resulting from the incident the following day.
In a poignant recounting shared with local media, Jones-McAllister described the harrowing moment her husband waved goodbye before becoming unresponsive. She emphasized the familiarity the technicians had with her husband’s chain, noting prior conversations about it at the facility.
The lawsuit also implicates East Coast Radiology P.C., which had a contract with the MRI center, along with Sun Enterprises LLC and GM Partners Westbury LLC, which leased and owned the property, respectively. Jones-McAllister’s legal team includes attorneys from Jacoby & Meyers and Ben Crump Law, though the amount sought in damages has not been disclosed.
Court documents reveal the psychological trauma Jones-McAllister experienced as she witnessed her husband’s injuries and ultimate death. Her claim cites severe emotional and psychological impacts, including lasting pain, disability, and disfigurement as consequences of this tragic incident.
The lawsuit outlines several alleged lapses in safety protocols. These include allowing McAllister into the MRI room without proper screening, failing to instruct him to remove his chain, and not deactivating the machine during the incident. MRI machines utilize strong magnetic fields capable of violently attracting metal objects, a well-known risk in medical settings where patient safety is paramount.
Family members remember McAllister as a loving husband, father, and grandfather who lived on a fixed Social Security income. To assist with funeral expenses, his stepdaughter initiated a crowdfunding campaign, highlighting the family’s financial difficulties.
As the case progresses through the Nassau County court, the widow seeks to hold the responsible parties accountable for what her attorneys describe as a preventable tragedy. The incident not only claimed a beloved family member but also left Jones-McAllister grappling with profound grief and lasting psychological scars.