Surgery

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

by

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

$23.87 Million Verdict in Pennsylvania: Jury Awards Record Sum After Botched Spinal Surgery Leaves Man Disabled

by

York, PA — In a striking medical malpractice case, a Pennsylvania jury has awarded nearly $24 million to a man who suffered severe spinal injuries due to a surgical error at WellSpan York Hospital. James Spangler, a former mechanic, underwent spinal surgery in October 2019 that left him with life-altering disabilities when a screw was mistakenly inserted into his spinal cord. During the procedure intended to alleviate spinal stenosis, neurosurgeon Joseph Krzeminski, MD, failed to adjust the operation even after an intraoperative monitoring system flagged the error. Spangler, 58, awoke with significant impairments, prompting decades … Read more

Manchester Man Awarded Record $23.87 Million in Medical Malpractice Case After Life-Altering Surgery

by

York, PA — A York County jury has set a precedent by awarding a Manchester man $23.87 million in a landmark medical malpractice case. This ruling against Wellspan York Hospital and a now-retired surgeon marks the highest compensation ever awarded in the county’s history for such a lawsuit. James Spangler, 58, was subjected to a medical ordeal that left him severely paralyzed after a 2019 surgical mishap. He underwent a cervical laminoplasty, a procedure intended to relieve spinal pressure, which tragically led to most of his body being paralyzed when the operation went awry. According … Read more

Louisiana Jury Hits Major Insurer with $400M Verdict for Underpayment to Cancer Surgery Center

by

New Orleans, LA — In a significant legal setback for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, a civil court jury has mandated the insurance giant to pay over $400 million for claims underpayments to a local surgery center focusing on cancer treatments. The verdict marks an unprecedented challenge to the practices of major health insurers in Louisiana, escalating concerns about the implications for medical claim settlements statewide. The court’s decision came after allegations surfaced that Blue Cross had either delayed, underpaid, or completely denied payment for approximately 9,000 approved procedures over a decade at St … Read more