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One year after a brutal attack inside a Palm Beach County hospital left a nurse with life-altering injuries, she and her family have filed a lawsuit alleging the incident could have been prevented.

Leelamma Lal, a longtime nurse, was working at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital on Feb. 18, 2025, when authorities say a patient being held under Florida’s Baker Act violently assaulted her. According to investigators with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the patient, Stephen Scantlebury, allegedly jumped from his hospital bed and repeatedly beat Lal before fleeing the building. Deputies apprehended him shortly afterward.

Now, Lal’s family has taken legal action against the hospital, its parent company HCA Healthcare, and private security contractor Allied Universal. The lawsuit claims the defendants failed to provide adequate security in a facility that allegedly had a history of violent incidents.

The attack left Lal with severe injuries that required months of hospitalization and rehabilitation. She eventually returned home after extended treatment, but her recovery remains ongoing. According to her family, she can no longer drive, cook independently or manage many daily activities she once handled with ease. She continues to receive treatment for double vision, cognitive challenges and heart-related complications.

Her daughter, Cilji Lal, described the emotional toll the attack has taken on the family, recalling the uncertainty surrounding her mother’s survival in the days following the incident. The rosary Lal was wearing during the assault was broken in the struggle, and her family says both the physical and emotional scars remain.

Attorney Karen Terry, who represents Lal and her family, argues in the complaint that stronger security measures could have prevented the attack. The lawsuit alleges the hospital and Allied Universal failed to ensure sufficient security staffing, including armed personnel, and did not take appropriate steps despite prior violent episodes at the facility.

The filing also contends that the patient accused in the attack had been identified as a danger to himself or others under the Baker Act and should have been transferred to a specialized psychiatric facility once medically stable. The complaint disputes earlier statements indicating he was still being treated for chest pain at the time of the assault.

In addition to seeking a jury trial, the family is requesting damages exceeding $50,000, citing lost wages, ongoing medical expenses and long-term disability. However, their attorney has emphasized that the case is about more than financial compensation. The family says they want systemic changes to ensure healthcare workers feel safe on the job.

Following the incident, hospital representatives said regulatory agencies reviewed the facility’s procedures and found no deficiencies. In a statement marking the anniversary of the attack, a spokesperson for HCA Florida Palms West Hospital expressed sympathy for Lal and her family, stated that employee safety remains a top priority, and said additional security enhancements have been implemented. The hospital also noted that it had not yet been formally served with the lawsuit and would not comment on specific allegations.

The criminal case against Scantlebury is still pending. He faces a charge of attempted second-degree murder while evidencing prejudice, and psychiatric evaluations are underway to assess his mental condition.

As the civil case moves forward, Lal’s family says their faith has played a central role in her recovery. Despite the progress she has made through extensive physical, occupational and speech therapy, they acknowledge that her life — and theirs — has been permanently changed.