A Franklin County man filed suit against Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on Jan. 23, accusing the hospital of negligence, wrongful death and willful, wanton and reckless misconduct in the case of his infant daughter.
Tyler M. Peyton’s daughter, Ellieana Peyton, died at 27 days old as the result of a three to four-foot crib fall that occurred March 25, 2025, in the presence of a patient care assistant, the lawsuit alleges. A CT scan revealed that Ellieana suffered a “left parietal skull fracture with associated scalp hematoma and extra-axial hemorrhage" that resulted in swelling, tenderness and visible bruising.
Ellieana was diagnosed with congenital dilated cardiomyopathy at birth, a condition that can impair the heart’s pumping function. However, the lawsuit said that after weeks at the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, echocardiograms showed Ellieana had normal or near normal heart function and was determined to be ready for discharge on or around March 28.
After the crib fall, Ellieana’s condition continued to decline, as she had sustained a traumatic brain injury with pre-existing cardiomyopathy, according to the lawsuit. She died on March 31, 2025.
Tyler Peyton is seeking at least $25,000 in compensation for the negligence claim and an additional $25,000 for the wrongful death claim.
A spokesperson for Nationwide Children’s Hospital said in a statement they cannot comment on pending litigation.
