Mother of Teen Who Overdosed on Ecstasy Files Wrongful Death Suit

By Daniel Hawn

Published on September 07, 2005

On the night of June 10, Thomas Binford Mallory, 16, and his friends took ecstasy, a drug that has both psychedelic and stimulant properties. According to court documents, within hours, Mallory began to overdose and display clear signs of needing medical attention.

The suit states that one of Mallory's friends called Dr. Guy Wells, a cardiologist, for help. Wells instructed the teens to bring Mallory to Wells' house, the suit states.

While at Wells' home, the teens attempted to revive Mallory but were unsuccessful and decided to call 911, the suit alleges. According to the suit, the call was made five hours after Mallory had originally taken the drug.

Mallory was brought to a local hospital where, according to a medical examiner's report, he died two days later after being taken off of life support.

The wrongful death suit, filed August 25, alleges that the teens did not seek medical attention within a reasonable time frame.

The suit also claims that Wells should have instructed the teens to take Mallory to the hospital, where it is likely that he would have been resuscitated, according to the lawsuit.

The victim's mother is seeking an unspecified amount of damages in the case.

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