Infection

Iowa Family Awarded $1.6 Million After Man’s Fatal Infection Post-Spine Surgery

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BETTENDORF, Iowa — Following a prolonged legal battle, a Scott County jury recently awarded over $1.6 million to the family of Steve Schwarz, a LeClaire resident who succumbed to complications after spinal surgery in 2020. Schwarz passed away a few months after an operation to introduce supportive hardware into his spine, intended to support his back due to underlying health conditions. The operation, conducted in March 2020 at the University of Iowa Hospitals, was initially deemed successful. Schwarz was subsequently moved to Cedar Manor in Tipton for postoperative care. It was at this facility where … Read more

$1.6 Million Awarded in Malpractice Case After Doctor’s Critical Mistreatment of Staph Infection Leads to Iowa Man’s Death

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DAVENPORT, Iowa — A Scott County jury has decided to award over $1.6 million to the daughter of a deceased LeClaire man in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The court found the doctor responsible for the care of Steve Schwarz, a 67-year-old welder, liable for failing to adequately manage his staph infection, leading to his untimely death. Filed by Heather Barrett, Schwarz’s daughter, the lawsuit named Dr. Michelle M. Sprengelmeyer, associated with Tipton Family Practice at the time, as the primary defendant. Deliberations concluded on Tuesday with the jury attributing “100 percent of the fault” to … Read more

Skilled Nursing Home Acquitted in Lawsuit Over Patient’s Fatal Infection: Jury Rejects $25 Million Claim

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A skilled nursing home in Jackson County has been absolved of liability in the death of a patient from a pressure ulcer, despite a $25 million compensation demand made by the plaintiffs. Geneva Miller, a resident of Timberlake Care Center in 2019, developed a buttock pressure ulcer that later led to fatal sepsis. Her granddaughters, who filed the lawsuit, alleged that the nursing staff failed to take necessary measures to prevent the avoidable wound. The plaintiffs’ attorney, Jonathan Steele, argued for significant damages due to the “egregious corporate conduct” of the … Read more