Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Over Gallbladder Surgery Errors Results in $2M Verdict

A Pennsylvania woman who suffered a bile duct injury during a botched gallbladder surgery has been awarded $2 million in damages due to the medical mistake.

Following a three day trial in Pittsburgh, a jury ordered Dr. Charles N, Lebovitz to compensate Denise Westwood for problems following her gallbladder removal in May 2013, according to a report in The Legal Intelligencer.

Westwood was undergoing gallbladder removal when her bile duct was injured, leaking bile into her body and resulting in permanent damage to her biliary system and liver. As a result, she has suffered multiple hernias, had to undergo medical treatment and is likely to need additional corrective surgeries, the lawsuit claimed.

Sports-Betting-Addiction-Lawsuits
Sports-Betting-Addiction-Lawsuits

The resulting injuries cost Westwood her job as a nurse’s aide, after she was declared unable to lift more than 10 pounds. The weight restrictions came following hernia repair surgery in October 2015, which the lawsuit indicated was needed due to the injuries caused during the gallbladder surgery.

The medical malpractice lawsuit claimed that Lebovitz failed to follow proper medical procedures, moving too quickly and trying to take shortcuts during the surgery, and refused to take responsibility for the damage. The jury agreed, finding

The jury agreed, determining that Lebovitz was negligent and awarding Westwood $750,000 for past noneconomic damages, as well as $1.25 million for future noneconomic losses.

Written by: Irvin Jackson

Senior Legal Journalist & Contributing Editor

Irvin Jackson is a senior investigative reporter at AboutLawsuits.com with more than 30 years of experience covering mass tort litigation, environmental policy, and consumer safety. He previously served as Associate Editor at Inside the EPA and contributes original reporting on product liability lawsuits, regulatory failures, and nationwide litigation trends.




0 Comments


This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Share Your Comments

This field is hidden when viewing the form
I authorize the above comments be posted on this page
Post Comment
Weekly Digest Opt-In

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

MORE TOP STORIES

Plaintiffs and defendants involved in a Galaxy Gas nitrous oxide lawsuit will meet with a federal judge early next month as the litigation continues to move forward.
Plastic surgeons are sounding the alarm over the rising use of mesh-based “internal bra” procedures, warning that the materials may cause serious complications and provide little long-term benefit.
Parties involved in hair relaxer cancer lawsuits meet with a federal judge tomorrow to update the Court on the status of discovery proceedings ahead of bellwether lawsuits.