Hospital Refusing to Release Attacker’s Medical Records, Nurse’s Legal Petition Claims

The attorney of Florida nurse Leelamma Lal, has filed a Petition for a Pure Bill of Discovery against HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, seeking critical evidence related to a violent attack she suffered while on duty. Lal was viciously attacked and critically injured by a hospital patient, Stephen Scatlebury, and remains in stable but critical condition. 

Scatlebury faces second-degree attempted murder charges with a hate crime enhancement for allegedly hurling racist remarks about Lal’s Indian ethnicity during the attack. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

The petition alleges that the hospital failed to properly handle a Baker Act patient, resulting in a life-threatening assault. It also states that the "Respondent has refused to produce Scantlebury’s medical records despite requests from both the State Attorney’s Office and defense counsel for Scantlebury."

According to the Petition For Pure Bill of Discovery:

• Leelamma Lal, a registered nurse, was viciously attacked by a patient, Stephen Scantlebury, at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital.

• The hospital was not a Baker Act facility, yet admitted and treated Scantlebury as a Baker Act patient without proper security measures.

• Scantlebury was placed in a room with no security cameras and out of sight from the nurses’ station, where he suddenly and violently attacked Lal. Lal sustained severe, life-threatening injuries and had to be airlifted to St. Mary’s Medical Center for treatment. "Petitioner was a Registered Nurse working at Respondent’s hospital.Unbeknownstto Petitioner, Scantlebury was a Baker Act patient. Respondent placed Scantlebury in a roomwhere there were no security cameras and no clear line of sight from the nurses station. Suddenly,in that room, Scantlebury viciously attacked Petitioner. Petitioner sustained life-threateninginjurieswherein she was taken by Trauma Hawk to St. Mary’s Medical Center and is being treatedstill for her horrific permanent injuries," the petition states. 

• The petition seeks to preserve critical evidence, including:

  • Security footage

  • Scantlebury’s medical records

  • Hospital policies and procedures related to Baker Act patients

  • Staffing records

  • Security contracts

• There is an ongoing criminal investigation, but Lal may not have access to crucial medical records before the statute of limitations for a civil case expires.

• The hospital has refused to provide records despite multiple legal requests.

Attorney’s Statements in The Petition:

1. “This hospital was never equipped to handle Baker Act patients, yet they admitted one and failed to provide even basic safety measures.”

2. “Had the hospital followed proper protocols, this tragic and preventable attack would never have occurred.”

3. “We are fighting to ensure that evidence is preserved and justice is served for our client, who suffered devastating injuries.”

Lal is represented by the law firm Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A., and the case is expected to unfold as a significant legal battle over hospital liability and patient safety.

This is a developing story, watch this space for updates. 

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