Wismond Brissett, 45, was treated at a local hospital for first- and second-degree burns. He suffered these burns while he was cooking at his home. Two days later, a plastic surgeon, Dr. David Watts, diagnosed first-, second- and third-degree burns to Brissett’s body. Dr. Watts scheduled a skin graft and a second debridement for the next day.
After the procedures, which included removal of skin from Brissett’s thighs and the placement of staples to secure the grafted skin, Brissett suffered severe pain and scarring on his arms and chest.
Brissett required narcotic pain medication and has become depressed and embarrassed about the scarring for which there is no medical treatment.
Brissett filed a lawsuit against Dr. Watts claiming that he misdiagnosed him as having third-degree burns and performed unnecessary grafting surgery, a treatment that was overly aggressive and placed Brissett at risk for scarring.
Brissett argued that the defendant Dr. Watts should have followed him closely and waited for the burns to heal on their own. The lawsuit did not claim lost time from work or lost income.
The jury’s verdict was $3 million. The attorneys representing Brissett were Timothy R. Lawn and Regina M. Foley.
At the jury trial, the attorneys for Brissett offered expert testimony from a plastic surgeon and a pathologist.
The defendant attorney offered experts in pathology and plastic surgery.
Brissett v. Watts, No. 130201770 (Pa. Ct. Com. Pleas Phila. County, June 5, 2015).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical negligence cases, birth trauma cases and birth injury cases for individuals and families who have been injured or killed by the negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Harvey, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Park Ridge, Inverness, Justice, LaGrange, Lansing, Country Club Hills, Countryside, Deerfield, Burnham, Calumet City, Bedford Park, Barrington, Arlington Heights, South Barrington, South Chicago Heights, South Holland, Tinley Park and Westchester, Ill.
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