North Lima, Ohio – A newly filed lawsuit alleges that a 64-year-old resident at an Ohio nursing home died after staff failed to recognize the seriousness of a devastating fall, leaving him with a fractured spine for nearly 17 hours before seeking emergency medical help.
Craig Latchaw was being treated at Caprice Health Care Center when he reportedly fell while attempting to get to the bathroom. Court filings say he suffered severe trauma, including a fractured spine and misalignment of his C1 and C2 vertebrae, injuries his family argues should have been immediately recognized as life-threatening.
Lawsuit Claims Staff Put Resident Back in Bed After Fall
According to the complaint, a nurse arrived at Latchaw’s room to find him still on the floor. His family alleges that the nurse took vitals and performed a brief assessment that failed to identify head or neck trauma.
“This nurse checked Craig’s vitals and completed an inadequate and incompetent head-to-toe assessment,” the filing states. “Caprice Health Care Center’s staff then picked Craig up from the floor and put him back in his bed.”
The nursing home was allegedly aware that Latchaw was at high risk for falls due to decreased mobility, oxygen dependence, pain medications, and psychotropic drug use.
Call Lights Reportedly Went Unanswered for Long Periods
Family members say Latchaw relied on call lights to request help going to the bathroom, yet those calls regularly went unanswered. The lawsuit claims delays were so long that Latchaw sometimes soiled himself in front of visitors, causing significant distress.
His fall on Dec. 12, 2024, was discovered by two state-tested nursing assistants who contacted a nurse. Latchaw reportedly told staff he fell while trying to reach the bathroom.
Staff Allegedly Failed to Recognize Decline for 17 Hours
The complaint asserts that after returning Latchaw to bed, staff failed to monitor him closely or address his worsening condition.
“Caprice Health Care Center staff failed to recognize Craig’s declining state until approximately 17 hours later,” the filing says.
By the next morning, a nurse found Latchaw lethargic and unable to respond. EMS was called and documented that he appeared congested, had yellow mucus, a fever, and signs of pneumonia.
Hospital Scans Reveal Spinal Fracture and Vertebrae Misalignment
A CT scan at Mercy St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital revealed the extent of Latchaw’s injuries, including a fractured spine and misaligned cervical vertebrae. Doctors placed him in a cervical collar and transferred him to MetroHealth Medical Center for trauma care due to the severity of the case.
Within days, Latchaw’s breathing worsened and his heart rate increased. He was transferred to the intensive care unit amid respiratory distress.
Spine specialists informed the family that surgery carried extreme risk and poor chances of survival. They chose comfort care, and Latchaw died on Dec. 23, 2024. The coroner listed the cause of death as complications from a cervical fracture and an unwitnessed fall.
Family Says Nursing Home Failed to Prevent a Known Risk
The family claims Caprice Health Care Center failed to explain how the fall occurred. According to the lawsuit, the facility’s director of nursing told them he “had a right to fall.”
“Every resident has the right to fall,” the director allegedly said. “We can not implement interventions without a cause.”
Their attorney, Michael Hill, argues the case reflects systemic failures.
“Instead, the facility ignored known risks, failed to respond when Craig needed help, and did not identify catastrophic injuries for nearly a full day,” Hill says.
Family Seeking Jury Trial and Compensation
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and compensation for alleged negligence, recklessness, and disregard for resident safety. It accuses the facility of prioritizing profits over care and failing to provide the protections promised to the family.
Caprice Health Care Center did not respond to a request for comment.
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