TUSCALOOSA, AL — The family of the man charged with capital murder for killing a DCH Health System nurse in May has filed a civil lawsuit against DCH Healthcare Authority, alleging the hospital failed to provide emergency psychiatric treatment during a mental health crisis hours before the fatal shooting.
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The 11-page complaint was filed in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court by Tuscaloosa attorney J. Michael Comer, who is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from DCH on behalf of Taylor's mother.
The lawsuit alleges Taylor was suffering from a severe psychiatric emergency on May 12 and was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center by family members or friends seeking emergency mental health treatment.
Patch previously reported that Taylor approached Ada Doss during a shift change before shooting her in what investigators have described as a random act of violence while Taylor was attempting to steal her vehicle.
The complaint states DCH personnel knew or should have known Taylor was experiencing an acute mental health crisis but failed to provide an emergency screening examination, stabilization, treatment or admission.
The lawsuit further alleges hospital and security personnel observed Taylor remaining on or near hospital property for several hours after he was allegedly turned away.
ALSO READ: DCH Releases Detailed Timeline Of Events Leading Up To Fatal Shooting Of Ada Doss
The complaint contends that prior of the shooting Taylor continued showing signs of severe psychiatric distress and that DCH failed to summon psychiatric services, crisis intervention personnel, law enforcement or initiate emergency detention procedures.
Attorneys for Taylor's family also allege he obtained an improperly secured firearm from a vehicle while in the midst of a psychiatric crisis and used it to fatally shoot Doss.
In a statement provided to local media Monday morning, DCH disputed a key allegation in the lawsuit, saying Taylor never entered the hospital or sought care.
"The loss of our colleague continues to weigh heavily on every member of our DCH family," the statement said. "She was a dedicated nurse and case manager who gave her professional life to caring for others, and her absence is felt every day by her colleagues, her patients, and the community she served."
While declining to comment on specifics of the pending litigation, DCH said it would review the complaint and respond through the legal process.
ALSO READ: Court Docs Detail Behavior, Mental State Of Man Who Killed DCH Nurse
"We would note that Mr. Taylor never entered our emergency department or any other hospital facility, was never registered as a patient, and never presented himself for care from DCH on May 12, 2026," the statement said.
DCH also emphasized that security improvements implemented following Doss' death will continue regardless of the lawsuit's outcome.
"The ongoing security enhancements we have implemented since May 12th are real, and not contingent on the outcome of any legal proceeding," the hospital said. "The enhancements of our security protocols will continue with input from our employees and leading security experts."
While he was initially booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond following the shooting, Taylor is currently being held at the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility while mental evaluations are being conducted to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
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