NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 1 : Hulk Hogan at the WWE’s Wrestlemania 30 Press conference at The Hard Rock Cafe on April 1, 2014 in New York City. Credit: RW/MediaPunch /IPX
Three months after the legendary professional wrestler, Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea died in his home, his family is saying they want to know more about what led to his death.
A recent court filing shows that Hogan’s family might be getting ready to file a wrongful death medical malpractice lawsuit. Why? And who might be charged?
Hogan Collapses and Dies After Heart Surgery
Terry “Hulk Hogan” Bollea was known for his physical strength, but in early 2025, he was dealing with major health issues. His wife, Sky Daily Bollea, shared that Hogan underwent “a major four-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.”
The day after Hogan returned home from the hospital post-surgery, he collapsed. He was rushed to a local hospital and died on July 24, 2025, at the age of 71.
According to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times, the Pinellas-Pasco County Medical Examiner’s Office listed Hogan’s cause of death as “myocardial infarction (more commonly known as a heart attack), as a consequence of atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm) and leukemia.”
An investigator from the medical examiner’s office said Hogan’s cause of death was determined by his doctor. No autopsy was performed as the cause of death did not seem suspicious.
But now Hogan’s family wants to take another look at the events that led to Hogan’s death.
Hogan Family Opens an Investigation
On October 2, 2025, Hogan’s wife and son, Nicholas Bollea, petitioned the circuit court in Pinellas County to extend the window of time for filing a potential medical malpractice lawsuit.
While the petition doesn’t mean the Hogan family will file a malpractice case, it does mean they want more time to find more information.
They aren’t the only ones looking for more details into Hogan’s death.
A spokesperson for the Clearwater Police Department said a police investigation into Hogan’s death remains open and ongoing after more than two months. In August, the agency said the “unique nature of this case has required us to interview multiple witnesses and seek medical records from a variety of providers.”
Who Could Be Responsible For Hogan’s Death?
According to legal documents, no parties have been accused of wrongdoing at this time. But it does name parties of interest. The lawsuit mentions:
- Morton Plant Hospital
- Tampa General Hospital
- Thomas Roush, an orthopedic surgeon who owns Roush Spine
- Guilherme H. Oliveira, an executive and expert in heart failure and transplantation cardiology at Tampa General
The filing also lists “any and all other applicable health care providers,” which leaves room for additional names and organizations to be added.
According to FOX 13, a source told Clearwater police Hogan “was a victim of medical malpractice because one of his nerves was severed during a recent surgery.” Hogan’s wife also told TMZ that Hogan’s phrenic nerve was ”compromised” during one of his surgeries.
Related: 11 Examples of Medical Malpractice Cases Worth Fighting For
What Does It Take to Win a Medical Malpractice Case?
Hogan’s family has not initiated a medical malpractice case yet. Under Florida law, victims have up to two years to file a wrongful death claim. Hogan’s family has requested an early extension on that time, adding another 90 days to the two years.
Medical malpractice is a type of personal injury lawsuit. For Hogan’s family to win a medical malpractice case against a healthcare provider or organization, they would need to prove four things.
- Duty: The healthcare provider had a clear duty to care for Hogan. The healthcare provider and the patient had an established relationship.
- Deviation: The healthcare provider deviated from standard of care. The healthcare provider did not provide Hogan with the same level of care as other qualified practitioners would have.
- Direct Cause: The actions or inaction of a healthcare provider caused direct harm to Hogan. The provider did something or failed to do something that directly caused Hogan harm.
- Damages: The actions or inaction of a healthcare provider led to financial, physical, or emotional damages to Hogan and/or his family.
Since Hogan died, the case is also a type of wrongful death claim. Hogan’s family could seek damages that cover not only his medical bills and cost of funeral and burial. Damages could also be awarded for loss of financial contribution and future wages, loss of consortium or companionship, and emotional distress of the surviving family.
In 2013, Hogan had pursued a medical malpractice lawsuit regarding another incident. It was filed against a Florida spine surgeon in Pinellas county and was later dismissed.
Right now, we’ll wait to see if the Hogan family chooses to move forward with suing for wrongful death in this medical malpractice case.
Related: How Do You Sue for Wrongful Death?
Get Justice for You and Your Loved Ones
Dealing with the aftermath of a medical procedure gone wrong is incredibly stressful and difficult. If you or a loved one is fighting to get justice after inadequate care, don’t give up. Put up a fight with the help of TJ Grimaldi.
TJ is an experienced personal injury attorney who will take on your fight for you so you can recover and heal on the way to justice. Schedule your free consultation to speak directly with TJ about your situation and see how he can get to work on your case right away. Schedule your consultation or call 813-226-1023 now.
