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.
