Jury Verdict Entered for Patient Whose Shoulder Surgery Went Wrong When Surgeon Placed Screw in the Wrong Place

Holly Mozzone, 39, underwent a bursectomy and a repair to her labrum; surgery was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gary Hunter. During the surgical procedure, Dr. Hunter placed a screw into her shoulder joint instead of on the limb of the joint.

As a result of this mistake, she developed mechanical and range-of-motion problems that necessitated 18 months of physical therapy. She was unable to continue working as a nursing assistant and now works as a flight attendant.

Mozzon filed a lawsuit against Dr. Hunter claiming liability for placing the screw during the operation in the shoulder joint instead of in the rim of the joint. That displacement of the surgical screw was the cause of her shoulder problems. The jury awarded $188,000 plus $150,000 in attorney fees.

The attorneys representing Holly Mozzone were Ashton K. Dennis and Thomas B. Vertetis. At trial, Mozzone’s attorneys presented an expert in orthopedic surgery as did the defendant.

Mozzone v. Hunter, No. 2014-2-11058-8 (Wash. Super. Ct. King County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been successfully handling orthopedic surgery errors, hospital negligence cases, medical negligence cases and nursing home abuse 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 surrounding areas, including Crestwood, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Rolling Meadows, Skokie, Orland Hills, Oak Lawn, North Riverside, Northfield, Northlake, Niles, Matteson, Lincolnwood, Lincolnshire, Lynwood, Lyons, Markham, Dixmoor, East Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Franklin Park, Glenview, Berwyn, Blue Island, Broadview, Burbank, Chicago (Horner Park, North Town, Chinatown, Diversey Harbor, Buena Park, Canaryville, Cragin, DePaul University Area, East Garfield Park, Edgewater, Edgebrook, Gladstone Park, Gold Coast), Kenilworth, Palatine and Round Lake Beach, Ill.