Family Of Slain DCH Nurse Ada Doss Sues Hospital, Security Company

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The family of a DCH nurse and case manager who was killed during a shift change in the hospital's parking lot in May has filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against DCH Health Care Authority and its contracted security company.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

Patch previously reported that 41-year-old Matthew James Taylor was charged with capital murder after shooting 27-year-0ld Ada Doss in what investigators have described as a random act of violence while he attempted to rob her and steal her vehicle.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court by Andrew Doss and names the DCH Health Care Authority, Universal Protection Service LLC, doing business as Allied Universal Security Services, and Taylor as defendants.

Doss' family is being represented in the wrongful death lawsuit by the Patterson Law Firm of Tuscaloosa.

"Healthcare workers and nurses walk into DCH every day to save lives," attorney North Patterson told Patch. "The least DCH and Allied Security could do is make sure they walk back safely to their vehicles at the end of the day. These defendants failed Ada Doss on the most basic level of safety."

The complaint filed Wednesday alleges Taylor was dropped off earlier that day at the entrance to DCH's emergency department by an unidentified person who reported he was experiencing a manic episode.

The lawsuit then claims DCH and Allied Universal security personnel were informed of Taylor's alleged erratic behavior but failed to assess the threat or locate him.

The complaint further alleges Taylor was allowed to leave the emergency department entrance area and remain on the hospital campus for several hours without being monitored.

The filing claims neither DCH nor Allied Universal security personnel made attempts to locate or confront Taylor despite receiving information that he was shirtless, shoeless and armed.

As Patch previously reported, attorneys representing Taylor's family in a separate civil suit allege that he obtained the gun from an unsecured vehicle.

The lawsuit also recounts the final moments before the shooting, claiming Doss was speaking with her husband by phone while walking to her vehicle after her shift ended.

The complaint states Andrew Doss heard his wife's voice become fearful as Taylor approached her with a gun. It further alleges he heard her plead, "please don't, I have babies," moments before she was fatally shot.

The suit alleges negligence, wantonness and wrongful death, claiming the actions and inactions of DCH, Allied Universal and Taylor combined to cause Doss' death.

As Patch previously reported, DCH Health System said that Taylor never entered the emergency department or any other hospital facility, was never registered as a patient and never presented himself for care on the day of the attack.

Attorney Paul Patterson said in a statement to Patch that the hospital and security company knew there were problems and criminal activity in their parking areas but did nothing to address it.

Doss' family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees, court costs and a jury trial.

"Today's lawsuit, on behalf of the Doss family, was filed to send a message to DCH that failing to protect our community healthcare workers will no longer be tolerated, and their safety must be the highest priority," Paul Patterson said in a statement to Patch. "Drew Doss lost the love of his life and is now forced to be a single father to his six-month-old and two-year-old daughters. This was a preventable tragedy caused by DCH's catastrophic security failure."

Taylor was initially booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond following the shooting but is currently being held at the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility while his competency to stand trial is evaluated.

As Patch previously reported, the lawsuit comes a couple of days after Taylor's mother 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.

DCH responded to the latest development on the legal front, saying the hospital system was aware of the lawsuit filed Wednesday.

"[Doss] was a member of our DCH family — a dedicated nurse, a caregiver, and a mother," DCH Health System said. "Her loss is not a legal matter to us. It is personal. And her family's grief is something we hold alongside our own."

DCH then said it couldn't comment on the specifics of pending litigation but commented that independent of any legal action, the hospital system takes seriously the safety of everyone on its campus.

"The enhancement of our security protocols will continue with input from our caregivers, patients, and leading security experts," DCH said. "We are committed to this work and our efforts are ongoing."

RELATED STORIES

• DCH Releases Detailed Timeline Of Events Leading Up To Fatal Shooting Of Ada Doss
• Court Docs Detail Behavior, Mental State Of Man Who Killed DCH Nurse
• Man Who Killed DCH Nurse Has Extensive History Of Mental Illness: Defense
• DCH Further Expands Security Measures After Nurse Shot And Killed

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.