TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida urology practice faces litigation claiming one of its employees dropped a patient while trying to return him to his wheelchair and broke his hip.
Belinda B. Castellana, the personal representative for the estate of Sam Castellana, filed a lawsuit April 12 against Florida Urology Partners, LLP, Hillarie Mastandrea, Frank Mastandrea, and Jefferson Desir in Hillsborough Circuit Court.
The case alleges that Sam Castellana, who was wheelchair-bound due to a stroke and subsequent cerebrovascular disease, was not properly accommodated by Florida Urology Partners during his medical appointments.
It is claimed that on one occasion in August 2021 he was transferred from his wheelchair to an examination table without appropriate equipment. Desir is accused of trying to move him without help and then claimed he slipped after Belinda refused to hold the chair.
The suit says Sam broke his hip in the fall and not long after surgery, his underlying health issues became aggravated. He died 11 months later.
Andrew Klymenko of Coleman & Klymenko represents the plaintiff.