Former Warner resident sues NH hospitals, town over mental healthcare mistreatment

A former Warner resident is taking two of New Hampshire’s largest hospitals and a local town to federal court, alleging she was mistreated, physically harmed and civilly trafficked while seeking help for a psychiatric condition that stemmed from her years of service as a law enforcement officer.

Susan Roth, a former California police officer who owns a home in Warner but now resides in California, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of New Hampshire against Elliot Hospital, Concord Hospital and the town of Warner on April 16.

Her attorney, Aaron Archambault, said Roth has been diagnosed with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a psychiatric disability she developed through repeated exposure to trauma during her law enforcement career. 

He said the core of the case is that none of the defendants treated Roth appropriately, given her diagnosis. As a result, “Ms. Roth has lost all trust in the medical care system and the law enforcement system of New Hampshire,” the complaint states.

A spokesperson for Concord Hospital on Thursday said it has not been served with the lawsuit.

Elliot Hospital said in a statement that it has no information to provide on this matter and “protecting the safety, dignity and confidentiality of all our patients is our top priority and a legal requirement under federal and state law. “

The Town of Warner did not comment on the lawsuit.

The reported misconduct unfolded across a series of incidents in April, 2025.

In one of the incidents, around 1:30 a.m. on April 17, Roth, who had voluntarily submitted to a 72-hour psychiatric observation at Concord Hospital, was transferred to Elliot Hospital without her knowledge or consent. None of her family members were notified. 

According to the lawsuit, she was transported against her will, in handcuffs and without shoes.

“She voluntarily was on hold at the Concord hospital with no risk to anybody,” Archambault said. “There was no indication that she did anything at the Concord hospital that would require her to be transferred to anywhere, and she did not agree.”

During her seven days at Elliot Hospital, the lawsuit states that Roth sustained a hip injury caused by “inhumane detention conditions” there.

Roth’s lawsuit brings forward twelve counts against the three defendants, including false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, battery, violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and civil trafficking.

The lawsuit states that after Roth left a Concord Hospital health facility in Warner, having not received adequate support for her mental health condition, staff there falsely told the Warner Police Department that she had threatened employees and was in possession of a firearm.

According to the suit, Warner police responded to Roth’s home and acted on that reportedly false information without conducting an independent investigation.

The lawsuit further alleges officers lacked proper training in de-escalating situations involving a patient in psychiatric distress.

“The constitutional violations suffered by Ms. Roth were caused by the policies, customs, practices and/or failures of the Town of Warner,” the lawsuit states.

Roth is demanding a jury trial, where the amount of compensatory damages she could receive would be determined. She is additionally asking the court to require that the defendants implement appropriate policies and trainings for interacting with individuals with PTSD.