William H. Chamblee and Jennifer H. Saucedo obtained a take-nothing defense verdict on behalf of a general surgeon in Erath County, Texas. The Plaintiff presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain, and the emergency room physician ordered a CT and consulted the general surgeon. After reviewing the CT and evaluating the patient, the surgeon performed an exploratory laparoscopy. During the course of that procedure, the surgeon could not identify a clear source of the patient’s severe pain, but found the appendix to be dilated and removed it. Final pathology on the appendix was negative. Two days after the original laparoscopic surgery, the patient required an open abdominal surgery due to bleeding from the appendiceal artery at the staple site. After being discharged from the hospital, the patient went on to develop recurrent incisional hernias requiring additional surgeries. Plaintiff sued, alleging that the Defendant surgeon was negligent in performing an unnecessary appendectomy, resulting in additional surgeries, pain and suffering, impairment, and disfigurement. Mr. Chamblee and Ms. Saucedo argued that the surgeon had exercised reasonable medical judgment in removing the appendix and that his care and treatment of the patient was all appropriate and within the applicable standard of care. After deliberating for a few hours, the jury returned a 10-2 defense verdict.
Attorneys: William H. Chamblee; Jennifer H. Saucedo
