Family Sues Doctor, Hospital, and Craigslist in Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The family of an Ohio woman who was allegedly murdered when she was 9 months pregnant has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on her, and her unborn daughter’s, behalf.
The family seeks $40 million in the wrongful death suit, for the emotional toll that Deanna Ballman’s death took on her loved ones. The lawsuit covers the wrongful death of Ballman’s unborn daughter, whom she reportedly wanted to name Mabel.
The lawsuit has been filed in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, by Ballman’s sister Cynthia Skoda.
New Albany doctor, Dr. Ali Salim, has been charged with lying to Ballman about his reasons for hiring her, then injecting her with a lethal dose of heroin and raping her, last year.
At the time of her murder, Ballman had recently separated from her husband and was looking for sporadic, part-time work to help her keep her family financially afloat until she could get a full-time job after her daughter’s birth. Court documents say that she responded to a Craigslist post looking for a house cleaner, which Dr. Ali Salim had allegedly posted. When she arrived at Salim’s home, allegations state that he injected her in the leg with heroin, using syringes and other medical supplies he obtained at the hospital where he was employed. Ballman fell unconscious, and Salim raped her. The massive dose of heroin caused organ failure, killing both Ballman and her unborn daughter.
Ballman’s body was found later in the backseat of her vehicle in southern Delaware County on August 1, 2012. The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that Salim disposed of her body at the abandoned farm house where her car was found.
The wrongful death lawsuit accuses Salim of negligence, medical negligence, and intentional tort. His employer, Knox Community Hospital and Emergency Services, LLC, is also accused of medical negligence, because Salim obtained the syringes and medical devices used in the accidental death of Ballman at the hospital.
Finally, the lawsuit accuses Craigslist of negligence, stating that the website company has a duty to care for its users. Other women have filed complaints with Craigslist, and had contacted law enforcement, after Salim used Craigslist ads to lure women to his home.
Ballman’s estate is seeking compensatory damages for the death of Ballman in the amount of $5 million, as well as compensatory damages in the amount of $5 million for the death of Ballman’s unborn child, Mabel. The estate is also seeking punitive damages in the amount of $15 million for the death of Ballman, and $15 million in punitive damages for Mabel’s death.
Salim’s criminal trial is set to begin September 3rd. He has been charged with two counts of murder, rape, felonious assault, corrupting another with drugs, kidnapping, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Wrongful Death Lawsuits
If a loved one dies as a result of the negligence, reckless, or intentional conduct of another, you may be entitled to bring a claim for wrongful death. A wrongful death lawsuit asserts a claim against a person who can be held legally responsible for a death. Surviving family members may be entitled to damages; money that can help with the expenses caused by the loss of their loved one. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC understand that this is a painful, difficult time. We offer free consultations to discuss the facts of your potential wrongful death lawsuit, so contact us today. 803.252.4800
