Richard Hennessy files medical malpractice suit against Samuel Simmonds Hospital

Richard Hennessy filed a medical-malpractice and personal-injury complaint naming Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital, the primary inpatient and emergency medical center serving Utqiaġvik (Barrow), in U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, opening case number 3:26-cv-00073 on Feb. 17, 2026. The complaint entry on the docket shows a filing time of 2:23 PM and records a filing fee of $405 with receipt number AAKDC-3899818.

The court assigned the matter to Chief U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason the following day. The clerk’s notice reads in full: "CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to the system of random case assignment, this case has been assigned to the Honorable Chief District Judge Sharon L. Gleason. Please use the following case number for all future filings 3:26-cv-00073-SLG . (JDV, COURT STAFF)" That clerk’s notice is docketed at 8:41 AM on Feb. 18, 2026.

Docket entries show the complaint filing labeled in the record as: "cmp Complaint Tue 02/17 2:23 PM COMPLAINT Complaint against Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number AAKDC-3899818.), filed by Richard Hennessy.(Sandberg, Peter)" The complaint entry lists attachments described as a civil cover sheet and an unissued summons for the defendant.

The docket reflects rapid service steps the morning after the filing. An "Unissued summons re Defendant Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital" appears at 8:43 AM on Feb. 18, 2026, immediately followed by an entry at 8:44 AM stating "Summons Issued as to Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital. (JDV, COURT STAFF)" The Pacermonitor header for the case shows the docket was last updated Feb. 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM AKST.

Plaintiff counsel on the filing are identified as Dustin Michael Glazier and Daniel Ian Pace of Sandberg & Pace, LLC and Peter A. Sandberg of Sandberg Pace & Glazier, LLC, with the complaint entry noting "(Sandberg, Peter)" as the filing attorney. The case is categorized on the docket under the nature of suit "362 Torts - Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice" and lists the cause as "28:1346 Tort Claim." A Law summary for the case likewise lists claims as "Malpractice ClaimsMedical Malpractice ClaimsPersonal Injury Claims" and repeats the court, case number, filing date, and Judge Sharon L. Gleason assignment.

The public docket excerpts do not include the substantive allegations, dates of alleged medical care, injuries claimed, or damages sought, and no defense counsel or appearance for Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital is listed in the provided filings. With the summons issued and the case now assigned to Judge Gleason under case number 3:26-cv-00073-SLG, the next docket entries to watch for are proof of service on SSMH, an appearance by defense counsel, and any scheduling order from the court. Until the complaint itself is obtained, the specifics of the alleged malpractice remain unspecified.