$553,000 Jury Verdict in Hinds County Medical Malpractice Trial
The Clarion-Ledger reported last week on a $553,000 jury verdict in a Hinds County medical malpractice trial against Jackson neurosurgeon Dr. Adam Lewis. The article provided a good description of the plaintiff's allegations:
Joanne Hartwig's negligence lawsuit in Hinds County Circuit Court said Dr. Adam Lewis' surgery on Aug. 1, 2005, left a plate in her back in the wrong position and one of the screws to fuse the lumbar spine bones together floating, not attached to bone.
Hartwig said the problem was discovered after she sought a second opinion because her condition continued to worsen under Lewis' care.
On Nov. 28, 2005, Hartwig said she had to undergo another surgery via her abdomen for the removal of the hardware.
"Ms. Hartwig sustained painful, debilitating injuries of a permanent nature, as well as the pain and suffering associated with having to undergo multiple surgeries and procedures," her lawsuit has said.
The components of the jury's verdict were:
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$178,000– economic damages
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$375,000– non-economic damages.
The article states that Dr. Lewis will appeal.
Precious Martin of Jackson represented the plaintiff. Whit Johnson of Currie Johnson in Flowood represented Dr. Lewis. Judge Winston Kidd was the presiding judge.
Dr. Lewis performed back surgery on me about 8 years ago. The outcome from the first surgery was he put to big of a disc in my back causing him to go back in to shave it down. in the process he cut a nerve. Dr. Lewis then wanted to perform a third surgery when I decided to have a second option. This neuro surgeon told me that NO you don't need another back surgery you now have Complex Regional pain syndrome in the left region caused from the nerve being cut. He referred me to a pain management doctor. Thanks Vicky Larson