DCH Responds To Wrongful Death Lawsuit Involving Slain Nurse

TUSCALOOSA, AL — DCH Health Care Authority has formally responded to the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of slain nurse Ada Doss.

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In its response, the hospital system denies that it bears responsibility for her death while arguing that the fatal shooting was caused solely by the criminal actions of the man charged with killing her.

The filing on Wednesday in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court comes days after a judge denied DCH's motion to dismiss the hospital system from the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed by Andrew Doss as personal representative of Ada Doss' estate, names DCH, Allied Universal Security Services and Taylor as defendants.

"Both DCH and the security vendor, Allied Security, have filed separate responses to the lawsuit brought by the Doss family," DCH Health System said in a statement. "DCH wants to make it clear that statements in the legal filing by Allied Security in no way reflect the position of DCH Health System. Out of respect for the legal process and the family’s privacy, we will not comment any further on this pending litigation."

Doss' family is being represented by Paul Patterson and North Patterson of Tuscaloosa's Patterson Law Firm.

"It is crystal clear that DCH’s statement is designed to put as much distance, as possible, between themselves and Allied Security," Paul Patterson told Patch. "The proverbial 'finger pointing' has begun as I fully anticipated it would. The bottom line is DCH vetted, selected and signed a contract with Allied Security to assist them, in a joint effort, to protect the employees of the hospital. They equally failed at their jobs and Ada Doss was forced to pay the price with her life."

As Patch previously reported, Matthew Taylor was dropped off at the hospital campus shortly before shooting and killing Doss in the south parking lot.

DCH denies allegations that it acted negligently or that its actions contributed to Doss' death.

The hospital specifically disputes claims that Taylor ever sought medical treatment or entered the emergency department before the shooting, reiterating an argument it has made publicly since the incident.

Throughout the filing, DCH repeatedly contends that Taylor alone is legally responsible for Doss' death.

DCH also asserts that Alabama's Workers' Compensation Act provides it immunity from the wrongful death claims and invokes statutory limitations on damages available against governmental entities.

Additionally, the filing raises numerous constitutional challenges to Alabama's wrongful death law and punitive damages framework, arguments commonly included in civil defense filings seeking to preserve issues for potential appeal.

Taylor has been indicted on capital murder and other charges in connection with Doss' killing.

The separate criminal case against Taylor is pending and he remains in custody without bond.

RELATED READS:

• DCH Hires Veteran UA Police Officer To Lead Security At Northport Medical Center
• DCH Further Expands Security Measures After Nurse Shot And Killed
• DCH Releases Detailed Timeline Of Events Leading Up To Fatal Shooting Of Ada Doss

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