HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A Limestone County grand jury this week found that Huntsville Emergency Medical Services, Inc., commonly known as HEMSI, and two of its ambulance operators were negligent in the care of a patient who later died after their transport from Huntsville Hospital to UAB Hospital. The wife of Robert Owen, who died May 4, 2019, alleged in her lawsuit that the actions of Jacob Steele and Calvin Hui added undue distress to Owen and played a role in his death.
Steele and Hui were named as defendants in the suit for their conduct, as well as HEMSI itself "for the conduct of other employees."
The Grand Jury awarded his widow, Gloria Owen, a net judgement in the amount of $15,000,000, as a result.
According to the complaint, Robert Owen was a "high-risk cardiac patient requiring ALS/cardiac transport" and "continuous cardiac monitoring" when he was due to be transported from Huntsville Hospital to UAB Hospital on April 23, 2019.
A HEMSI supervisor, the suit alleges, ordered Hui to drive the ambulance that day rather than Steele. The suit stated that Steele still ended up behind the wheel, and drifted out of lanes and into rumble strips and fog lines multiple times, and missed the exit which would have kept them on the intended route to Birmingham. Steele stopped the ambulance on the shoulder and told Hui he was unable to continue driving.
Hui then reportedly informed a supervisor about Steele’s inability to continue, and was told by supervisors to continue the transport to with Hui as driver and to place Steele in the rear with Robert. Doing so, the complaint says, is a direct violation of the State of Alabama’s rules, regulations and protocols.
The complaint contends that Hui drove with rapid acceleration, hitting rumble strips and nearly causing a crash with another vehicle.
Once back on the correct route to Birmingham, the lawsuit says Steele “pulled out an electronic cellular device, connected headphones to it ... reclined back and put his feet up and began watching videos and/or listening to music. Shortly thereafter, Steele passed out.”
Owen was aware of what was going on around him, according to the plaintiff. "It was upsetting and stressful to him," the complaint states. At this point, Owen began to experience increased chest pain and pain in his left shoulder, arm and jaw.
“He began calling out for help, but Steele remained passed out with his headphones in his ears and Hui did not respond" after multiple attempts, the complaint reads.
Owen's attorneys then challenged Steele's past history of substance abuse and chronicled 12 past incidents where Steele was deemed "incompetent and/or unfit" to provide a proper standard of care during his time with HEMSI. In March 2019, Steele was fired for recklessly operating a HEMSI ambulance, only to be rehired a few days later, about one month before Owen's ride.
A video was also placed into evidence. The video, shown to be taken in the early morning hours the day of Robert Owen's transport, sees Steele smoking marijuana. A text message exchange between Hui and Steele shows Hui was aware of Steele's drug use and concerned for his well-being.
Hui and Steele have since been terminated from HEMSI's employment. FOX54 has reached out to HEMSI for a statement on the judgement.