Durham mom sues after apartment laundry room death: 'Should still have my son'
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Debra Davies says her life has not been the same since November 2024, when her son, Jason Pulliam, died at Ashton Place Apartments in Durham.
Now, Davies has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit, alleging that Pulliam died after becoming trapped inside the apartment complex's laundry room and was unable to receive timely medical assistance.
"I'm fighting for him," Davies said. "What happened to him should not have happened. I should still have my son here with me."
According to the lawsuit, Pulliam, who had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, suffered a severe medical emergency on Nov. 25, 2024, just days before Thanksgiving. The complaint alleges Pulliam and another tenant became trapped inside the building's laundry room and were unable to get out.
The lawsuit states Pulliam died on the laundry room floor after being deprived of timely access to emergency medical care.
"By the time they found him, they couldn't revive him," Davies said.
Court documents say another tenant was doing laundry when Pulliam entered the room, appearing distressed and in need of help. The complaint alleges neither person had a cellphone and that they were unable to open the door. The tenant repeatedly banged on the door and called for help, according to the lawsuit.
Davies described her son as someone who was always willing to help others.
"He loved babies, older people, and pets," she said. "If you needed anything, he was there. His smile was contagious."
At the time of his death, Pulliam had been visiting his mother at Ashton Place Apartments, where she still lives. Davies said he had been helping care for her while she recovered from surgery and was scheduled to pick her up from a train station later that evening.
The lawsuit alleges neighbors eventually heard commotion coming from the laundry room, opened the door, and called police.
"If you're going to have a solid door, there should be something there to help you get assistance," Davies said. "These are seniors. Anything could have happened."
Since her son's death, Davies said she has helped launch a tenant organization called Seniors in Action.
On Monday, she pointed to changes made to the laundry room, including a new metal door with a window that was installed after Pulliam's death.
Davies' attorney, Lee Rodio, said he believes the evidence supports the lawsuit.
"We feel confident about our case," Rodio said. "We feel confident about the theory of liability here. Throughout this process, we will come to the table in good faith and invite the defendants to do the same."
ABC11 reached out to attorneys representing Ashton Place Housing and DHIC for comment.
Attorney Jack Bayliss, who represents the defendants, provided a statement:
"I believe a free press is the bulwark of a free country. However, lawsuits need to be handled within the court system. We will be responding to the complaint and defending the lawsuit, which will be a matter of public record."
According to the lawsuit, a doctor later determined Pulliam died from cardiomyopathy, a condition that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.
Davies said her son would have turned 41 years old this year.
