Nurse Leela Files Lawsuit Against HCA and Security Company After Brutal Workplace Attack

Disclaimer: This article includes discussions of violence and contains graphic images that may be disturbing to some readers. Viewer discretion is advised.

One year to the day after a brutal attack, nurse Leelamma Lal and her family filed a civil lawsuit against HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, its parent company HCA, and the hospital’s security contractor, Allied Universal Security. The complaint alleges that the hospital and security company were negligent in failing to provide adequate protection for staff, despite what the suit describes as a documented pattern of violent incidents on the campus. Lal’s attorneys argue that the attack was “foreseeable and preventable” if basic security measures and staffing had been in place.

According to the lawsuit, Palms West and Allied Universal:

•  Ignored repeated requests from nurses for stronger safety protocols, including better screening of visitors and more robust security coverage on units caring for high‑risk patients.
• The filing cites several prior assaults on nurses and staff in the months surrounding Lal’s attack, as well as another incident just two weeks later involving a different Baker Act patient, to argue that leadership knew—or should have known—that current security arrangements were inadequate.
• The suit also claims the hospital failed to disclose the full risk posed by Lal’s assailant, preventing her from making an informed decision about whether it was safe to care for him.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and unspecified monetary damages, noting that Lal can no longer work as a nurse and continues to live with double vision, cognitive changes, and other long‑term complications. Beyond compensation, her family and legal team say they hope the case forces broader changes in how hospitals protect frontline staff from violence. Since news of the suit became public, the attorney representing Lal has said that multiple HCA employees have reached out describing similar concerns about safety and security in their facilities, underscoring that this case is about more than one nurse—it’s about the conditions nurses are asked to work in every day.

Details of the Assault

The attack occurred around 1:20 p.m. in a third-floor patient room. Scantlebury, who was under the care of the nurse due to Florida’s Mental Health Act (a.k.a. Baker Act), suddenly jumped from his bed and assaulted her. Witnesses reported that he repeatedly struck the nurse in the face before fleeing the scene.

Lal  was airlifted to St. Mary's Medical Center because of the severity of her injuries. Medical reports indicate that “Essentially every bone” in her face was broken.

Nurse Leela’s journey has been marked by incredible resilience and the unwavering support of friends, colleagues, the nursing community, and even Pope Francis. 

Arrest and Charges

After the assault, Scantlebury fled the hospital premises. He was apprehended by Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies on Southern Boulevard, where a deputy used a stun gun to subdue him.

Stephen Scantlebury

Scantlebury, who has no prior criminal history in Palm Beach County, now faces charges of second-degree murder. Following the attack, he was seen walking shirtless on Southern Boulevard with EKG leads still attached to his chest before being apprehended by law enforcement.

Stephen Scantlebury continues to await trial and remains in custody, facing charges that include attempted murder and a hate crime enhancement. Additionally, legal actions involving HCA Florida Palms West Hospital are progressing, highlighted by recent developments such as the denial of a requested gag order by the court and continued efforts by Lal’s legal team to obtain crucial evidence and documentation related to the incident.

In light of the attack and ongoing legal actions, state inspectors visited HCA Florida Palms West Hospital approximately one week after the incident. Their report found "no deficiencies" at the hospital. 

Hate Crime Enhancement

During a pre-trial detention hearing, Palm Beach County Deputy Sgt. Beth Newcomb testified that after the attack, the accused, Scantlebury, allegedly made racist remarks during the 2-minute assault, stating, 

• "Indians are bad"
• "I just beat the (expletive) out of an Indian doctor."

The victim’s daughter, Cindy Joseph, provided a harrowing account of her mother’s injuries, describing extensive trauma: "She had subdural and sporadic bleeding of the brain, the right side of her face was fully fractured. ... She was intubated and unconscious, with severe bruising and swelling around her eyes. I didn’t even recognize her." She continued, "She had no chance to defend herself as she was viciously attacked by this man twice her size as he hurled ethnic slurs at her."

Scantlebury’s wife testified that in the days leading up to the attack, he exhibited signs of paranoia, believing their home was “bugged.” However, at the time of the incident, he was not hospitalized for mental health concerns.

Additionally, his attorney, Scott Simmons, requested that he be transferred to a mental health facility. "Somewhere that's actually equipped to handle his mental health issue that he's obviously going through right now. The jail is not the best place for that." The judge denied the request, deeming it “premature.”

911 Calls Released

911 calls from inside Palms West Hospital reveal the panic and chaos during and after the brutal attack on nurse Leelama Lal. But what’s even more shocking is the response from a hospital administrator.

Hospital Administrator: "We had a Baker Act beat a staff member unconscious, now running around the building."

911 Dispatcher: "You said they assaulted the employee until they passed out?"
Hospital Administrator: "Yeah, unconscious. I'm not worried about that part. I need the Baker Act dealt with."

As the dispatcher sought more details, the administrator added a chilling remark:

"I'm not sure—she's probably going to die."

Read the rest of the 911 transcripts here. 

>> A GoFundMe account has been set up for Nurse Leela

Hospital and Community Response

HCA Florida Healthcare released a statement for their injured colleague, stating: “Our primary concern is with our beloved colleague, and we are praying for her recovery. We are also providing support to our hospital staff who are understandably shaken by this incident. The attack on our nursing colleague happened within a matter of seconds and was witnessed by multiple people who came to assist. We are grateful to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office who acted to detain the suspect, and we are assisting law enforcement in their investigation.”

The Florida Nurses Association emphasized the need for enhanced safety measures to protect healthcare workers from such violent acts. Executive director, Willa Fuller, said: “People that are caring for you in the hospital are not targets and should not be seen as somebody that is OK to abuse… Almost every nurse has probably experienced some kind of violence in her career, at least once and probably more often.”

Nurse.org will continue to update this article as the case unfolds.

🤔Nurses, have you experienced violence at work? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

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