A couple is taking legal action against a medical center and several healthcare professionals, alleging severe medical negligence that resulted in significant health complications. Rachel Bennett and her husband Jonathan Bennett filed a complaint on October 10, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, targeting Largo Medical Center, Inc., doing business as HCA Florida Clearwater Emergency, along with several medical practitioners including Juliana Mesa Martinez, ARNP; Arturo Taladriz, M.D.; Iris Cedeno, ARNP; Charles Nightingale, M.D.; Alfonsino Emergency Physicians, LLC; and Bayside Emergency Physicians, P.A.
The case centers around allegations of medical negligence that purportedly led to a delayed diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism for Rachel Bennett. According to the lawsuit filed by the Bennetts’ attorneys from Gunn Law Group, P.A., Rachel initially visited Largo Medical Center on January 6, 2023, with symptoms including a persistent cough. She was attended by Nurse Martinez under the supervision of Dr. Taladriz. Despite these symptoms potentially indicating a serious condition like a pulmonary embolism, they allegedly failed to conduct necessary tests such as a D-dimer test or CT angiogram. Instead, she was sent home with antibiotics and steroids.
Rachel’s condition worsened over time. On January 18, 2023, she returned to the same facility with more severe symptoms but was again misdiagnosed by Nurse Cedeno and Dr. Nightingale as having an upper respiratory infection. It wasn’t until February 2, 2023—when Rachel sought care at Mease Countryside Hospital—that her pulmonary embolism was correctly diagnosed via CT angiogram. This delay in proper diagnosis and treatment allegedly caused significant lung damage and other health issues for Rachel.
The plaintiffs argue that each defendant failed to meet the prevailing professional standard of care required in their respective roles. They accuse them of not considering pulmonary embolism as a potential cause for Rachel’s symptoms and failing to order appropriate diagnostic tests when she first presented with symptoms indicative of this life-threatening condition.
In addition to seeking compensatory damages for Rachel’s physical injuries—which include pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement—and loss of income capacity due to ongoing health issues—the Bennetts are also pursuing claims related to vicarious liability against both Alfonsino Emergency Physicians and Bayside Emergency Physicians under the doctrine of respondeat superior. They allege these entities are responsible for their employees’ actions during their treatment of Rachel Bennett.
Moreover, Jonathan Bennett is claiming loss of consortium due to his wife’s prolonged illness caused by alleged negligence from the defendants. The lawsuit demands judgment for damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of interest or attorney fees while emphasizing permanent losses suffered by Rachel Bennett.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Lee D. Gunn IV and Ryan A. Lopez from Gunn Law Group based in Tampa. The case Number is: 25-005718-CI.
Source: 25005718CI_Rachel_Bennet_v_Largo_Medical_Complaint_Pinellas_County_Florida.pdf
