A recent court filing alleges that failures in obstetrical care led to a newborn suffering permanent brain injury after a prolonged labor and delayed cesarean section. The complaint was filed by Madison Wolf and Joseph Wolf, individually and as natural parents and guardians of their minor child W.W., in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit for Pinellas County, Florida, on March 26, 2026. The defendants named are BayCare Health System, Inc.; Trustees of Mease Hospital, Inc., doing business as Mease Countryside Hospital; Florida Woman Care, LLC; Ladies & Babies OB-GYN Associates, LLC; Arleigh I. Ancheta, D.O., P.A.; and Arleigh Ancheta, D.O.
According to the complaint, Madison Wolf was admitted to Mease Countryside Hospital on January 29, 2023 for induction of labor at 39 weeks gestation due to a high-risk pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes and other comorbidities. The plaintiffs allege that despite early signs of fetal distress observed through abnormal heart rate patterns during labor induction with medications such as Cervidil and Pitocin, nursing staff did not notify or obtain timely evaluation from Dr. Arleigh Ancheta or escalate concerns through proper channels.
The filing outlines that over several days of attempted induction from January 29 through February 2, 2023, Mrs. Wolf showed minimal progress toward delivery while fetal monitoring continued to reveal variable decelerations—a sign consistent with umbilical cord compression—and late decelerations indicating possible uteroplacental insufficiency. Plaintiffs claim these warning signs were not met with adequate intrauterine resuscitative measures or changes in management by either hospital nurses or Dr. Ancheta.
On February 1, 2023, Dr. Ancheta performed an artificial rupture of membranes while the fetus remained high in the pelvis—a procedure plaintiffs say increased risk for acute fetal compromise without offering cesarean delivery as an alternative. Pitocin administration was escalated throughout the day despite ongoing abnormal fetal heart tracings and uterine tachysystole (excessive contractions), which further reduced fetal oxygen reserves according to the complaint.
By late evening on February 1 into February 2, fetal distress worsened with persistent non-reassuring patterns culminating in a prolonged seven-minute deceleration—described as an obstetrical emergency requiring immediate action. Plaintiffs allege that notification to Dr. Ancheta was delayed until after this critical event had occurred and that subsequent steps toward cesarean delivery were not carried out without delay by nursing staff or under physician direction.
The timeline presented states that although a cesarean section was called at approximately 1:55 a.m., Mrs. Wolf did not enter the operating room until about 2:28 a.m., with surgical incision made at around 2:56 a.m.—more than an hour after the decision for surgery was made. W.W. was delivered at approximately 2:57 a.m., described as limp and cyanotic at birth requiring immediate resuscitation including intubation.
Medical records cited in the filing show Apgar scores of 2 at one minute rising to 7 at ten minutes post-delivery along with cord blood gas analysis indicating metabolic acidosis—evidence consistent with inadequate oxygenation prior to birth. W.W. subsequently developed seizures shortly after birth and was diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which plaintiffs attribute directly to prolonged unrelieved oxygen deprivation during labor allegedly caused by failures in monitoring and response.
The lawsuit asserts multiple causes of action including direct medical negligence against Dr. Ancheta; vicarious liability against his professional association (Arleigh I. Ancheta D.O., P.A.), Ladies & Babies OB-GYN Associates LLC (as employer/agent), Florida Woman Care LLC (as managing member), Trustees of Mease Hospital Inc./Mease Countryside Hospital (for both direct corporate negligence and vicarious liability for staff actions), as well as against BayCare Health System Inc., citing both parent/subsidiary relationships and joint venture theories.
Plaintiffs also claim all statutory pre-suit requirements under Chapter 766 Florida Statutes were met—including presuit notice sent via certified mail/FedEx Priority Overnight on October 30–31, 2025—with confirmed delivery but no meaningful response from Dr. Ancheta or resolution during presuit investigation periods.
The relief sought includes compensatory damages for past and future pain and suffering, disability, impairment, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life for W.W., as well as costs related to hospitalization and long-term care needs expected indefinitely into the future due to permanent injuries sustained during birth.
The case is identified as Case Number: 26-001913-CI in Pinellas County Circuit Court. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs include Melanie Hilson (Litigation Paralegal) with contact information provided within the filing.
Source: 26001913CI_Madison_Wolf_v_Baycare_Complaint_Pinellas_County_Florida.pdf
