In a gripping legal battle unfolding in Pinellas County, Florida, two plaintiffs have launched a lawsuit against a medical professional and her employer, alleging severe medical negligence. On January 28, 2025, Carolyn Hoskins and her wife Lolita E. Johns filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Pinellas County against Dr. Jenna Harrison and Women's Care Florida, LLC.
The case revolves around a surgical procedure that allegedly went awry on February 19, 2024. Carolyn Hoskins had been suffering from uterine fibroids and sought treatment from Dr. Jenna Harrison at Women's Care Florida. The planned robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was meant to alleviate her condition but instead resulted in catastrophic complications. According to the plaintiffs' claims, Dr. Harrison failed to recognize the extent of calcification in the fibroids during surgery and used excessive thermal energy that caused significant damage to Hoskins' vaginal canal.
The complaint further alleges that Dr. Harrison's actions fell below acceptable medical standards, leading to permanent injury for Carolyn Hoskins. The lawsuit details how an Alexis O Extractor Bag ruptured during the procedure and how Dr. Harrison's subsequent attempts using robotic instruments resulted in scarring and closure of Hoskins' vaginal canal. This negligent conduct is said to have caused not only physical injuries but also severe mental anguish for Hoskins.
Carolyn Hoskins is seeking judgment for damages exceeding $50,000 along with costs and interest against both defendants. The lawsuit accuses Dr. Harrison of negligence in pre-operative planning, use of inappropriate energy levels during surgery, failure to convert to safer surgical methods when necessary, and inadequate post-operative care. Additionally, Women's Care Florida is held vicariously liable for employing Dr. Harrison and directly liable for failing to ensure their staff met professional standards.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Wesley T. Straw, Matthew D. Emerson, and Nicole M. Ziegler from Emerson Straw PL law firm based in St. Petersburg, Florida. They argue that due diligence was conducted before filing the suit as required by Section 766.106 of the Florida Statutes; this included obtaining an expert affidavit confirming medical negligence occurred.
In addition to compensatory damages for Carolyn Hoskins’ injuries—such as pain and suffering or loss of earnings—the lawsuit also includes a claim from Lolita E Johns seeking compensation for loss of consortium due to her wife's incapacitation following surgery.
The case has been assigned Case Number: 25-000388-CI under Judge Ken Burke’s jurisdiction at Pinellas County Circuit Court where it awaits trial proceedings expectedly filled with compelling testimonies regarding standard healthcare practices versus alleged malpractices witnessed here.