Annalu Varanda, as the personal representative of the estate of Hilton Varanda, has filed a lawsuit against Jose Codolosa, M.D., Bay Area Heart Center, P.A., and Largo Medical Center, Inc. d/b/a HCA Florida Largo Hospital. The case was filed in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida with case number 24-001881-CI on April 29, 2024.

The plaintiff alleges that the defendants failed to provide adequate medical care to Hilton Varanda leading to his death on February 16, 2022. The lawsuit is brought pursuant to Florida Statutes §766 and §768.16 (Florida Wrongful Death Act). The action seeks damages in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), exclusive of attorney’s fees, costs, and interest.

The plaintiff asserts that Hilton Varanda sought medical care from HCA Florida Largo Hospital on January 8, 2022. However, due to alleged negligence by the hospital and its staff including Jose Codolosa, M.D., Hilton’s health deteriorated leading to his death.