The widow of a 52-year-old man is suing a Casper nursing home for the wrongful death of her husband on Dec. 8, 2004, according to a complaint filed in 7th District Court on Tuesday.

Sheila Myers claims her husband, Leslie Simpson, received deep suctioning treatment on Dec. 5 and 6 at the Wyoming Medical Center for a mucus plug stuck in his windpipe, and was transferred to Shepherd of the Valley Care Center on Dec. 6, according to the complaint filed by Myers' attorneys Robert Tiedeken of Cheyenne and Jeremy Michaels of Gillette.

His doctors ordered Simpson receive routine "trach care," but Shepherd of the Valley staff performed no such procedure from 7 a.m. Dec. 7 until he was pronounced dead at 3:30 a.m. Dec. 8, according to the complaint.

An autopsy performed on Dec. 9 determined Simpson died from a mucus plug within his tracheostomy tube, which resulted in cardiopulmonary arrest.

Myers is suing for damages including a loss of future economic support, companionship and funeral expenses, according to the complaint.

An official with Shepherd of the Valley could not immediately be reached for comment.

Read the full story in Friday's Casper Star-Tribune.