A slip and fall incident at a hospital has led to a legal battle, with serious allegations of negligence against the healthcare facility. Loranne Stokes filed a complaint on May 2, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, accusing C/HCA, Inc., doing business as HCA Florida Northside Hospital, and Galencare, Inc. of failing to maintain safe premises.
According to the lawsuit, Loranne Stokes visited the defendants' property on August 16, 2023. She was there as a business invitee when she slipped and fell on feces left on the floor near her husband's room. The complaint asserts that both Northside Hospital and Galencare had a nondelegable duty to ensure the safety of their premises but failed in multiple ways. "Defendants owed Plaintiff duties to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition," states the complaint. Stokes accuses Northside Hospital of negligently failing to maintain or adequately inspect their flooring for hazards like feces, which created an unreasonably dangerous condition for visitors.
The lawsuit details several alleged breaches by Northside Hospital: failing to maintain clean floors free from feces; not warning guests about potential dangers; and lacking adequate staff for inspection and maintenance tasks. These failures allegedly resulted in significant personal injuries for Stokes, including pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, and lost earnings.
Similarly, Galencare is accused under the non-delegable duty doctrine of negligence for its role as owner and controller of the premises. The complaint alleges that Galencare failed to maintain safe conditions by not inspecting or correcting hazardous situations like feces on floors. As a result of these alleged lapses in duty by both defendants, Stokes suffered severe injuries with lasting impacts.
Stokes seeks damages exceeding $50,000 from each defendant—Northside Hospital and Galencare—along with interest and costs related to her injuries. She demands a jury trial for all issues so triable.
Representing Loranne Stokes is attorney Robert Bonanno from Morgan & Morgan Tampa P.A., known for handling personal injury cases. The case is identified under Case Number 25-002327-ClI.