A Tennessee woman has filed suit against the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, alleging Nashville Fire Department EMS personnel dropped her when a gurney tipped over while she was being transported following a medical emergency.

Itama Campbell filed suit in Davidson County Circuit Court seeking in excess of $300,000 in damages. The suit alleges negligence under the Tennessee Health Care Liability Act and the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act.

Quoting from the complaint:

• On or about September 8, 2025, Ms. Campbell was a patron at Shoney’s restaurant located at 546 Donelson Pike, Nashville, Davidson County, TN 37214.
• While at said restaurant, Ms. Campbell experienced a medical emergency, requiring emergency medical assistance.
• Nashville Fire Department and/or Nashville Fire Department EMS personnel responded to Ms. Campbell’s location for the purpose of providing emergency medical assistance.
• Upon arriving at the scene, Defendant’s emergency medical personnel undertook responsibility for Plaintiff’s evaluation, care, handling, transfer and/or transportation.
• Plaintiff was dazed and weak from her medical emergency and required assistance from Defendant’s emergency medical personnel to be safely moved and transported.
• Defendant’s personnel placed Plaintiff on gurney for purpose of moving and transporting Plaintiff.
• Having undertaken Plaintiff’s care and transportation, Defendant’s personnel assumed responsibility for safely handling, maintaining, stabilizing, maneuvering and controlling the gurney while Plaintiff was positioned upon it.
• Plaintiff was dependent upon Defendant’s personnel to safely handle, maneuver, stabilize, and control the gurney during her transfer and transportation.
• During the course of moving and/or transporting Plaintiff, Defendant’s personnel failed to safely maintain, stabilize, maneuver, and control the gurney.
• As a result, the gurney became unstable, tipped over, and fell to the ground while Plaintiff was positioned upon it.
• Plaintiff fell to the ground with the gurney and sustained injuries as a result of the gurney tipping over.
• At the time of the occurrence, Plaintiff and the gurney were under the care and control of Defendant’s emergency medical personnel.
• Plaintiff did not cause or contribute to the gurney tipping over and was in no position to prevent the occurrence.
• The incident would not have occurred had Defendant’s personnel exercised reasonable and appropriate care in maintaining, stabilizing, handling, maneuvering, and controlling the gurney during Plaintiff’s transfer and transportation.
• Following the incident, Plaintiff experienced injuries requiring additional medical evaluation and treatment.
• As a direct and proximate result of the gurney tipping over and falling to the ground with the Plaintiff positioned upon it, Plaintiff sustained new and distinct traumatic injuries, including but not limited to a T3 compression fracture and a right shoulder injury.
• The injuries Plaintiff sustained as a result of the gurney tipping over were separate and distinct from and/or constituted an aggravation of the medical condition for which Defendant’s emergency medical personnel initially responded.

The suit alleges Nashville Fire Department personnel breached the applicable standard of care by failing to safely handle, stabilize, maneuver and control the gurney; allowing it to become unstable; failing to provide sufficient personnel or assistance; failing to adequately assess the conditions under which Campbell was being moved; and failing to follow applicable policies, procedures, protocols, training and standards governing patient transfers and gurney operations.

Campbell is seeking damages for past and future pain and suffering, mental and emotional suffering, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages and loss of earning capacity. She is seeking compensatory damages of no less than $300,000.