PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — A Palm Beach County resident has filed a civil lawsuit seeking more than $50,000 in damages after an alleged crash involving a vehicle owned by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and driven by a sheriff’s captain.

The case is captioned Patryck Dos Santos v. Ric Bradshaw, as Sheriff of Palm Beach County, Florida, Case No. 502025CA012772XXXAMB, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida. According to the filing, the complaint was electronically submitted to the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court on December 9, 2025.

In the complaint, plaintiff Patryck Dos Santos alleges that on or about September 28, 2024, he was operating a motor vehicle in Palm Beach County when another vehicle, driven by Captain Euell and owned by Sheriff Ric Bradshaw in his official capacity, was involved in a crash with his vehicle. The document states that Captain Euell was operating the sheriff’s vehicle in Palm Beach County at the time.

Dos Santos claims that Captain Euell “negligently operated and/or maintained” the sheriff’s vehicle, and that this alleged negligence caused the crash involving the plaintiff’s vehicle. The complaint further asserts that Sheriff Bradshaw, as the owner of the vehicle and as Euell’s employer, is legally responsible for the captain’s alleged negligent acts.

The lawsuit is brought as a negligence action against Sheriff Bradshaw “as Sheriff of Palm Beach County, Florida.” Dos Santos alleges that the sheriff consented to and gave permission for Captain Euell to operate the vehicle, and that under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine, the sheriff is vicariously liable for the captain’s alleged negligence.

As a result of the crash, Dos Santos claims he suffered bodily injury, including what the complaint describes as a permanent injury to the body as a whole. The filing lists an array of alleged damages, including pain and suffering, disability, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, aggravation of a pre-existing condition, and medical expenses for hospitalization, nursing care, and treatment. He also alleges loss of earnings, loss of the ability to earn money, and loss of the ability to lead and enjoy a normal life, and asserts that many of these alleged harms are permanent or will continue into the future.

The complaint states that the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000, exclusive of costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees. For civil cover sheet purposes, the plaintiff lists an “estimated amount of the claim” as $50,001 and notes that the actual value of the claim will be determined by a jury.

Dos Santos is demanding a jury trial on all issues so triable and seeks a judgment against Sheriff Bradshaw, in his official capacity, for damages in excess of $50,000, plus any other relief the court deems proper.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Dos Santos by Morgan & Morgan, P.A., with attorney Zachary A. Hudson listed as counsel of record. The firm’s West Palm Beach office on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard is identified in the signature block of the complaint.

These claims remain allegations at this stage. The complaint reflects only the plaintiff’s side of the dispute, and the court has not made any findings of fact or rulings on liability.

The original document, as filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court, can be viewed here.