Lawsuit filed against Jefferson University Hospital after murder of nursing assistant by off-duty co-worker

PHILADELPHIA – On Tuesday, Attorneys at Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky sued Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson College Hospital alleging systemic stability failures resulted in past October’s execution-design murder of Licensed Nursing Assistant (CNA) Anrae T. James, who was killed by a closely armed, off-responsibility co-worker, in accordance to the lawsuit. 

The suspect, Stacey Hayes, who experienced a history of violence, fled the medical center and wounded two Philadelphia police officers in a shootout before his seize.

Attorney Steven G. Wigrizer, of SMB, explained the complaint was filed Tuesday early morning on behalf of James’ widow and their three little ones. 

“Our pre-accommodate investigation concluded that the defendants are liable for the litany of outrageous stability failures that Jefferson officers admitted to only immediately after this heinous killing. Justice now needs they be held accountable for their reckless inaction that put Mr. James and other folks – which includes staff, individuals, site visitors and health-related Jefferson’s possess professional medical learners – at risk. When Hayes entered Jefferson Hospital’s S. 10th St. setting up, he was carrying a large bag containing assorted guns and wearing overall body armor. He walked uncontested by means of an unsecured most important entrance without having becoming stopped for the reason that there ended up no guards at their assigned stations.” 

In addition to asserting promises of wrongful dying and carelessness, the lawsuit seeks a jury trial, along with unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

In accordance to the grievance, the intensely armed shooter – his weapons reportedly incorporated an AR-15 assault rifle – did not have to go as a result of a metallic detector. He was not scheduled to function that night time, and due to the lax stability, did not have to justify his shock overall look.

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The lawsuit asserts that experienced the comprehensive range of important safety steps been in area, Hayes would have been denied entry, detained, and Mr. James would be alive right now.

“The thorough file exhibits that this was a tragedy in the making that could have and should have been averted if only clinic management had acted in the ideal interest of its heroic overall health care employees who, like Anrae James, commit their life to supporting others,” discussed Mr. Wigrizer. “We vehemently disagree with Jefferson’s general public relations situation that the sweeping corrective steps Jefferson executed immediately after this tragedy would have been insufficient to prevent Mr. James’s murder. Jefferson understood for a long time that violent criminal offense was frequently occurring at its Clinic and, in reality, hardened protection in other components of its campus, and that the exact kind of increased security measures ended up not only feasible, but also necessary in the creating the place Mr. James and hundreds of his other heroic co-employees labored 24/7.”

Barbara James, who was married to Anrae James for 11 decades, said, “Anrae loved all people, specially our a few kids, and loved his function, encouraging folks each individual day. Like anyone else at the Healthcare facility, Anrae relied on Jefferson to shield him even though at get the job done. He was meant to sense safe and sound there. We have so several inquiries and can only hope and pray they’re at last answered at demo.”

SMB legal professional Jason S. Weiss, representing Ms. James along with Mr. Wigrizer and attorney Aidan B. Carickhoff, said this was the most recent in a string of violent incidents in and all around the Jefferson campus. 

“This was not an isolated violent incident. To the opposite, there were being so a lot of earlier crimes that Jefferson developed and publicly shared on the web a ‘Crime Log’, where Jefferson publicly documented the violent criminal activity at its services right up until Jefferson discontinued its reporting observe in 2018. But the violence ongoing. This assault was preventable and foreseeable.” 

SMB legal professional Carickhoff extra, “For all of us, get the job done ought to be a risk-free area to do what we like. And until finally Oct 4, 2021, that was correct for Anrae James. He dedicated his everyday living to supporting many others. But Jefferson unsuccessful to support Anrae when he desired it most. We look ahead to telling his story at demo.”