December 22, 2003
A Jefferson County jury found in favor of a Louisville orthopedist who allegedly installed too-small a hip replacement in a patient. Three ensuing operations by another orthopedist helped only slightly. Months after these surgeries, the original physician prescribed Methadone to alleviate pain. The patient fatally overdosed the first day it was prescribed. The estate of the patient alleged unreasonable malpractice in the first surgery and claimed that because of this initial error, the overdose and death were sustained. Led by James Grohmann, the defense successfully argued that the initial operation was conducted with proper surgical technique, and that the subsequent pain and repairs were known complications. This case was resolved on the first jury question, and the patient took none of the requested 1.7 million dollars in damages.