Ocala woman says leg fractured after nursing home workers dropped her during bed transfer

An Ocala woman claims her leg and ankle were fractured by workers at a skilled nursing home who allegedly dropped her to the floor during a transfer from her bed to a wheelchair.

Attorneys representing Brandi Pridgeon filed the lawsuit against 24th Road OPCO, LLC, in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Marion County on September 17.

The company formerly did business as Aspire at Arbor Springs, which is now known as Avaiata at Arbor Springs (1501 SE 24th Road) in Ocala.

According to the complaint, Pridgeon was a patient at the nursing home in September 2024.

On September 29, 2024, the complaint alleges that Pridgeon was dropped to the floor during a “transfer from her bed to her wheelchair resulting in a fractured leg and ankle.”

After the alleged incident, Pridgeon claims she was transferred to UF Health Shands Hospital, where she underwent surgery to repair the fractured leg and ankle.

The complaint accuses the employees of failing to provide Pridgeon with the “care, supervision, and services to prevent her from failing to the floor during a transfer from her bed to her wheelchair.”

Pridgeon’s attorneys argue that the company breached its duty to her and other patients through the “acts and omissions of its agents, servants, and employees, both managerial and non-managerial, while acting in the course and scope of their employment.”

As a result of the incident, Pridgeon claims she suffered pain of “both a physical and mental nature,” aggravation of a pre-existing condition, and loss of her ability to “lead and enjoy a normal life.”

Pridgeon is seeking over $50,000 in damages, exclusive of attorney’s fees.