PORTLAND One of the sons of an Alzheimers patient who vanished two years ago has filed a $2 million wrongful death lawsuit against the assisted living center where she lived.

Ruby Larson, 75, wandered away from the Molalla care center about 3 p.m. July 23, 2007, and hasnt been seen since. Search and rescue teams from Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties used dogs, bikes and boats in the days after Larsons disappearance but turned up nothing.

A judge last year declared her legally dead.

Attorney Charles Paulson recently filed the suit in Multnomah County on behalf of David Buoy, one of Larsons three sons. It names Pheasant Pointe Retirement and Assisted Living Residence and its parent company, Spectrum Retirement Communities of Oregon.

The lawsuit claims Larson had wandered off three times before and staff members were negligent by not preventing it from happening again. The lawsuit also alleges that Pheasant Pointe staff was slow to inform Molalla police about the disappearance.

Phil Luebbers, a senior vice president with Spectrum Retirement Communities, declined to comment on the suit.

At Pheasant Pointe, residents live in private apartments. Personal care services are available according to need, directed by a licensed nurse and conducted by resident assistants. The center serves meals in a common dining room.

Larson was admitted to Pheasant Pointe in May 2007, according to the suit, and the staff knew she suffered from dementia, short-term memory loss and disorientation. The lawsuit says Pheasant Pointe should have had Larson in an Alzheimers care unit equipped to keep her from wandering away.

The lawsuit seeks money to compensate for the loss of companionship faced by Larsons sons.