WELLINGTON, FL — A Palm Beach County widow has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Wellington Regional Medical Center, two emergency department clinicians, and a physician group, alleging that a missed cellulitis diagnosis in January 2024 led to fatal sepsis, according to a newly filed complaint.
The complaint was filed July 8, 2026, in the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in and for Palm Beach County by Greta Bennett, acting as personal representative of the estate of John Thomas Bennett and as his surviving spouse. Court records show the case is docketed as Estate of John Thomas Bennett v. Wellington Regional Medical Center, LLC, et al., Case No. 502026CA007634XXXAMB, and assigned to Division AA in the Circuit Civil Division.
The defendants named in the filing are Wellington Regional Medical Center, LLC, which does business as Wellington Regional Medical Center; James William Rodriguez, D.O.; Scott Francis Erickson, APRN; and EM Alliance, LLC. The complaint identifies EM Alliance as a professional limited liability company with its principal place of business in Palm Beach County and identifies the hospital as located at 10101 Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. The lawsuit alleges the two clinicians were employees or agents of both EM Alliance and the hospital.
The plaintiff is represented by attorneys Eric T. Halsey and Gary M. Cohen of Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen, P.A., a Boca Raton law firm. The filing reviewed by Boca Post does not include a response from any defendant.
According to the complaint, John Thomas Bennett, 72, went to the emergency department at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Jan. 16, 2024, with a chief complaint the medical record describes as dry skin on both hands and feet for a few weeks. The lawsuit alleges Erickson and Rodriguez evaluated him, noted his skin was "excoriated, consistent with an allergic reaction," and recorded a heart rate of 107. The complaint alleges no laboratory testing was ordered during the visit and that Bennett was discharged home with a prescription for a topical steroid cream and instructions to follow up with his primary care physician and dermatologist.
The lawsuit alleges that seven days later, on Jan. 23, 2024, Bennett was taken by EMS back to Wellington Regional Medical Center after calling for help twice for bilateral lower leg pain and shortness of breath. According to the complaint, he was hypotensive on arrival, lab work showed severe acidosis and an elevated lactic acid level, and clinicians suspected sepsis secondary to cellulitis. The filing states he was admitted to the intensive care unit, placed on pressors and broad-spectrum antibiotics, started on continuous renal replacement therapy dialysis, and eventually intubated. The complaint alleges his condition continued to worsen and he died on Jan. 24, 2024.
The 10-count complaint asserts direct negligence claims against Rodriguez and Erickson and asserts vicarious liability and nondelegable duty claims against EM Alliance and Wellington Regional Medical Center. Among other allegations, the lawsuit contends the clinicians failed to perform a complete physical examination that would have identified cellulitis in the left lower extremity, failed to document skin findings, failed to include cellulitis, wound infection and sepsis in their differential diagnosis, failed to order lab work including a complete blood count, blood cultures and lactic acid, failed to further investigate tachycardia, and failed to initiate antibiotic therapy. The complaint alleges that as a direct and proximate result of the alleged negligence, Bennett developed sepsis leading to multiorgan failure and death.
The filing states that Bennett's estate is seeking damages including loss of net accumulations and medical, funeral and burial expenses. Greta Bennett, individually, is seeking damages for lost support and services, loss of companionship and protection, and mental pain and suffering. The complaint demands compensatory damages in excess of the court's $50,000 minimum jurisdictional threshold and demands a jury trial. The filing states that pre-suit notice was given under Florida's medical malpractice statute and that all conditions precedent have been satisfied or waived.
Boca Post reviewed the complaint, Estate of John Thomas Bennett v. Wellington Regional Medical Center, LLC, et al., Case No. 502026CA007634XXXAMB, filed July 8, 2026, in the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in and for Palm Beach County. The allegations have not been proven in court. The case is newly filed and pending in the Circuit Civil Division.
Boca Post tracks civil court filings across Palm Beach County, including lawsuits involving businesses, residents, property disputes, associations, and local organizations. Follow our Palm Beach County Lawsuits coverage for recent filings.
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