Nursing home lawsuit results in $1.1 million verdict

By Daniel Hawn

Published on April 30, 2006

According to the lawsuit, North Macon Health Care facility failed on several occasions to provide James Davis, 62, of Hartwell, with adequate care, ultimately contributing to his death.

Davis became a resident of the nursing home in August 2001. He was unable to speak due to a stroke he suffered in 1998.

The lawsuit states that in 2002 Davis broke his leg from a fall; however, his injury wasn't identified for a week. A second fall, later that year, opened the incision from the surgery he underwent.

The lawyer for Davis' family, Tom Edwards, said a lack of proper care by the facility caused the wound to become infected with feces and urine. The resulting complications Davis suffered led to his death, Edwards said.

During the trial, it was revealed that employees of the nursing home had expressed concern that the center was not adequately staffed to care for its patients, Edwards said.

Following the announcement of the jury's verdict, the nursing home's parent company, UHS-Pruitt Corp., provided a statement via email saying that it believes the home was properly staffed and that its residents are given care suited to their particular needs.

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