Settlements Announced for 3 of 124 West Virginia Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Filed Against One Doctor

Three settlements worth about $2.4 million were reached between Dr. John A. King, Putnam General Hospital and families of victims who died during surgery as a result of medical malpractice in West Virginia. Another 121 malpractice lawsuits are still pending as a result of treatment rendered by Dr. King at Putnam General during a six month period between November 2002 and June 2003.

The settlements were approved by Judge O.C. Spaulding, of the Circuit Court of Putnam County West Virginia, approved the settlements on Tuesday. The facts surrounding the settlements were not kept confidential, since the Judge felt that the public had a right to know what the result was from the well-known cases.

The medical malpractice settlements which the Court approved include:

• The Estate of Cora Linville received $1,083,384 for settlement of a surgical malpractice lawsuit for multiple infections caused by negligent medical care during back surgery.
• The Estate of John Higgenbbotham received $923,585 to settle a lawsuit brought after complications arosue during a spinal operation which he never woke up from.
• The Estate of Leathea Johnson received $423,585 following her death months after a series of surgeries to repair fractures and counter infections.

The Putnam Circuit Court is scheduled to hold another hearing later this month to approve additional settlements reached on behalf of nine minors who were injured as a result of negligent care provided by Dr. King. Additional settlement agreements have been reached in about 105 of the 124 medical malpractice lawsuits filed against King and Putnam general, but the others have not yet been approved or publicly disclosed.

King, who graduated from medical school in 1984, was an osteopath. His license to practice medicine in more than 12 different states have either been revoked, surrendered or he has let them expire. He is currently living in Birmingham, Alabama.

In 2006, Putnam General Hospital was sold and it is currently known as Teays Valley Hospital, a part of Charleston Area Medical Centers (CAMC).