A jury in White Plaines New York issued a record breaking judgment of $9.8 million to a 49-year-old plaintiff who sustained ongoing injuries after a wisdom tooth extraction went wrong.
The plaintiff, who according to a press release remains on disability with persistent pain, had sued a pair of clinicians, both of whom were found to have equal liability by the jury. The first clinician performed the original extraction, but the plaintiff had severe enough pain to head to the emergency room just hours later. The second clinician reportedly completed the extraction after the plaintiff had spent four days in the hospital. Both clinicians were found by the jury to have failed to obtain informed consent from the patient.
Read the full press release below.
Jury Awards $9,800,000.00 for a Botched Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Plaintiff Sustained Permanent Neurological Injuries and Broken Jaw Syndrome
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A White Plains jury has awarded a record-breaking verdict of $9,800,000.00 to a 49-year-old man for the injuries he sustained as a result of a botched wisdom tooth extraction. The plaintiff presented to the dentist, Dr. William Moody with a toothache. After three unsuccessful attempts at removing the wisdom tooth, Dr. Moody sent the plaintiff home under the assumption that the extraction had been completed.
Several hours after returning home, plaintiff was rushed to the Emergency Room at White Plains Hospital. He was then transferred to Westchester County Medical Center where he was admitted under the care of an oral surgeon, Dr. Michael Miller, with a diagnosis of air emphysema and residual roots. After spending four days at the hospital, Dr. Miller surgically extracted the remaining roots. Dr. Miller had never actually seen or examined the plaintiff prior to the surgery.
The jury found both Dr. Moody and Dr. Miller were equally liable for the injuries and that they had failed to obtain an informed consent.
The plaintiff has been unable to return to work as a hydro-geologist, and remains totally disabled as a result of his constant pain.
The plaintiff was represented by Christopher Meagher, of Meagher & Meagher, P.C., who previously obtained the two largest medical malpractice jury verdicts in Westchester County's history. Mr. Meagher presented the compelling facts of this case to a jury consisting of six persons and three alternates, who unanimously agreed on the verdict.
Source: PR Newswire