The sons of Brighton assisted living resident Felipe Dip have filed a wrongful death lawsuit after their father was found “badly decomposed” in his room on July 21, 2023, according to a court complaint. The filing alleges staff skipped welfare checks for roughly nine days while Dip missed 27 meals and a motion-sensing device in his unit showed no activity. The case, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, names the facility’s owner and an unnamed attendant and seeks damages for wrongful death and emotional distress.
According to WCVB, the complaint brought by Dip’s two sons says employees discovered his body on July 21, 2023, and that it had likely been decomposing for about nine days before anyone went into his room. The suit names Benchmark Senior Living, LLC and a John Doe attendant as defendants and claims staff never entered Dip’s room or performed welfare checks after he stopped coming to scheduled meals. The plaintiffs are seeking damages, plus costs and interest, according to the filing.
Court Filing Lays Out Missed Checks And Meals
As reported by The Boston Globe, the complaint alleges that during the stretch when Dip missed 27 meals, no one “conducted a welfare check, entered Felipe Dip’s room, or otherwise investigated his whereabouts or well being.” The Globe notes that the filing asks for a jury trial on claims including wrongful death, negligence and breach of duty, and that the sons are seeking at least $1 million in damages. According to the paper, Benchmark did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the attorney representing Dip’s sons could not be reached.
Facility And Ownership
Chestnut Park at Cleveland Circle is operated by Benchmark Senior Living, which describes the Brighton site as an assisted living and Mind & Memory Care community. The complaint names Benchmark as a defendant and contends the facility failed to maintain adequate staffing, monitoring protocols and supervision for resident checks. Community listings indicate the property offers assisted living and memory care services in the Cleveland Circle neighborhood.
Regulatory Context
State officials and the long-term care ombudsman have in recent years pushed for clearer complaint tracking and stronger oversight of assisted living residences to help spot problems earlier. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman have issued guidance on oversight and complaint procedures, including resources focused on transparency and resident protections on Mass.gov and in a 2025 ombudsman recommendations document. Families who suspect neglect can file complaints with state agencies and contact the ombudsman for advocacy and information.
What's Next
The suit remains pending in Suffolk Superior Court. Court records cited by WCVB show the defendants had not filed a formal response at the time of reporting. If the case proceeds, it will move into discovery, where lawyers exchange documents and take depositions, and could eventually head to trial or be resolved through a settlement. For families, the filing highlights how civil lawsuits and state complaint channels often become the main paths to seek answers when a loved one’s care is questioned.
.jpg){kind=link}