Family sues Grady EMS after teen left without ambulance in crisis

A multimillion-dollar lawsuit has been filed against Grady Hospital Corporation and Grady EMS. The case centres on the failure to provide an ambulance for 15-year-old Mandy Sylvester during a medical emergency in December 2024. The legal action also highlights wider concerns about ambulance availability in Fulton County. Mandy Sylvester experienced a medical crisis during volleyball practice in December 2024. A 911 call was made, but Grady EMS was operating at 'level zero', meaning no ambulances were available to respond. The lawsuit claims callers were not told about the shortage until a second call was made over 20 minutes later.

According to the filing, Grady EMS failed to notify emergency personnel or the family that no ambulance could be dispatched. It also alleges the service did not request mutual aid from other providers when its own resources were unavailable. As a result, Mandy’s mother, Barbara Sylvester, drove her daughter to the hospital herself.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and his legal team are representing the Sylvester family. They argue the case raises serious questions about emergency response systems in the county. Grady Hospital has stated it will respond through the legal process, citing privacy laws that prevent discussion of patient details. The lawsuit seeks justice for Mandy Sylvester and aims to address the broader issue of ambulance shortages in Fulton County.