Morgan and Morgan attorneys Craig Stevens and Chad Brazzeal have obtained a $1 million verdict on behalf of woman whose husband died following complications from a surgical procedure. A jury determined that both the patient’s doctor and the hospital where he was treated were negligent in failing to re-insert a nasogastric tube.
Jimmy Hughes, a Johnson Middle School teacher, was 63-years-old when he underwent surgery to have his appendix removed at Lakewood Ranch Hospital in Bradenton, Florida. Twelve hours after the surgery, his nasogastric tube came out. The nasogastric tube removes stomach contents and decompresses the stomach to prevent vomiting. His surgeon, Dr. Pecoraro, ordered the tube to stay out and put him on a clear liquid diet. Four days after the surgery, Mr. Hughes vomited into his oxygen mask, aspirated, and went into cardiac arrest. He died the following day. Prior to the surgery, Mr. Hughes had been healthy.
At the conclusion of a seven day trial, a jury determined that Dr. Pecoraro was 35% responsible for Mr. Hughes’ death and ordered him to pay $350,000. Although part of the blame was placed on the medical support staff at Lakewood Ranch Hospital, the hospital opted to settle with the Hughes family out of court.
Medical malpractice attorneys Craig Stevens and Chad Brazzeal of Morgan and Morgan represented Mr. Hughes’ wife, Carol Hughes, and his estate in this lawsuit. Both Mr. Stevens and Mr. Brazzeal are located at the Fort Myers, FL office of Morgan & Morgan. Mr. Stevens has been honored with the prestigious AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell and was named a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar in 2007. Mr. Brazzeal is a member of The Florida Bar, U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, Collier County Bar Association, and Thomas S. Biggs American Inns of Court.
About Morgan & Morgan
Morgan and Morgan is one of the largest Personal Injury law firms in the country with multiple office locations throughout Florida and the Southeast. The firm handles auto accident cases, personal injury cases, and medical malpractice cases, as well as claims against drug and medical device manufacturers. Visit Morgan and Morgan online at http://www.forthepeople.com/ for a free case evaluation and information about your legal rights.
