New Hampshire State Jury Awards $ 5,029,142.00 To Couple Who Brought Medical Malpractice Action Against Ophthalmologist After Wife Lost Vision In Both Eyes
In January of 2006, Nancy Knox was a patient of Adam P. Beck, M.D. and New England Eye Specialist, P.C. At that time, she lost vision in her left eye due to age-related macular degeneration. She later alleged that Dr. Beck's medical treatment did not conform to the standards of care and caused the loss of vision in that left eye. In June and July of 2012, Dr. Beck treated Nancy for macular degeneration in her right eye, and Nancy then lost vision in that eye as well, leaving her legally blind. Nancy later claimed that Dr. Beck had been negligent in providing medical care to her right eye as well. Specifically, she maintained that he delayed in providing care to her and he injected steroids into her right eye. Because she already suffered from glaucoma in the right eye, she claimed that the steroids drastically elevated the pressure within the eye, causing the retina to separate from the eye, and resulting in irreversible damage and blindness.
On March 10, 2014, Nancy and her husband Joseph Knox filed a medical malpractice complaint against Dr. Beck and the New England Eye Specialist practice in the New Hampshire Superior Court for Rockingham County. They asserted claims for negligence and loss of consortium.
The matter proceeded to a jury trial in late 2016. Plaintiffs presented evidence that Nancy's anticipated life care costs would exceed $ 4,000,000.00. On Dec. 9, 2016, the jury reached a verdict in plaintiffs' favor, finding that Dr. Beck had breached the standard of care in his treatment of both of Nancy's eyes. The jury declined to award damages for the damage to the left eye, but the jury assessed her damage to the right eye at $ 4,679,142.00. In addition, the jury awarded Joseph $ 350,000.00 for loss of consortium.
Plaintiffs were represented by Richard E. Fradette of Beliveau Fradette & Gallant PA in Manchester, New Hampshire. Dr. Beck was represented by John D. Cassidy of Ficksman & Conley, LLP in Boston, Massachusetts.
Lexis Advance subscribers may view the complete summary, include expert information, here: Nancy Knox and Joseph Knox v. Adam P. Beck, M.D. and New England Eye Specialist, P.C; 2016 Jury Verdicts LEXIS 9821
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