Portland, Oregon — In a landmark decision, a Multnomah County jury has awarded former Portland Timbers goaltender Jake Gleeson over $20 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The 34-year-old New Zealand native, whose career was ended by complications following surgery, filed a suit against Dr. Richard H. Edelson, a team-associated physician.
Gleeson sustained stress fractures in both legs, which led him to undergo surgery in 2018. He alleged the medical implants used during his surgery were improperly sterilized, resulting in infections that necessitated 14 additional surgeries and led to significant and chronic pain.
Discussing his harsh ordeal via a Zoom call post-verdict, Gleeson expressed the emotional and physical toll the years of medical procedures had taken on him, stating, “It’s been very difficult.”
Gleeson’s case focused primarily on Dr. Edelson’s use of Immediate-Use Steam Sterilization (IUSS), a method that his legal team argued was insufficient and led to his infections. The defense, however, maintained that infection is a standard surgical risk and not a direct result of malpractice.
Throughout the three-week trial, Gleeson received considerable support from his former teammates, including Nat Borchers, Jack Jewsbury, and Darlington Nagbe, who testified about Gleeson’s character and career impact. The defense presented former Timbers GM Gavin Wilkinson to support their case.
Gleeson shared an emotional testimony about the extent of his suffering. “I left the training field one day, not knowing that that would be the last time I would ever be a professional soccer player,” he recounted. This has taken a significant toll on him both physically and emotionally over the last six and a half years.
The jury decisively sided with Gleeson on all four negligence questions posed regarding Dr. Edelson’s practices, with votes of 12-0 on two questions and 11-1 on the remaining two. The award included damages amounting to $15.675 million for non-economic losses, $2.145 million for future earning impairments, and smaller amounts covering past and future medical expenses and lost wages. Although the future medical expense award faces a cap of $200,000, the total damages awarded amount to approximately $20.4 million.
While the defendant’s attorney John Pollino has not commented on any plans to appeal, the size and clarity of the jury’s verdict suggest that an appeal may be likely.
Reflecting on his experience and the verdict, Gleeson expressed a desire to advocate for patient safety, stressing the universal need for medical professionals to adhere strictly to safety guidelines.
The legal battle, which has spanned over four years, has also seen settlements with other involved parties, including Dr. Jonathan Greenleaf and the Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center, though allegations were dismissed against Oregon Sports Medicine Associates. The Portland Timbers were not implicated in the suit.
Prior to his misfortunes, Gleeson was celebrated as a key player for the Timbers, contributing significantly to their 2015 MLS Cup victory and accumulating 67 appearances across all competitions during his tenure with the club.
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