Jury awards $24 million to Pennsylvania man injured in botched spine surgery

A Pennsylvania jury has awarded a $23.87 million verdict to James Spangler, a 58-year-old Harley Davidson mechanic from Manchester who suffered catastrophic injuries from improper spine surgery.

The verdict represents the largest published medical malpractice award in York County history, according to Spangler’s attorney, Iddo Harel, a partner at the Ross Feller Casey law firm in Philadelphia.

In October 2019, Spangler underwent surgery at WellSpan York Hospital to relieve spinal problems. During the procedure, neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Krzeminski accidentally inserted a screw into Spangler’s spinal cord. Court testimony indicated that during the operation, Krzeminski disregarded monitoring alerts indicating potential neurological compromise.

Immediately after the operation, Spangler was paralyzed and showed signs of neurological and spinal cord damage. However, the medical team did not order spinal imaging to gauge the extent of any damage and also waited 12 hours before undertaking follow-up surgery that could have alleviated his injuries.

As a result of the surgery, Spangler was left paralyzed in all four limbs with no voluntary movement or sensation in his lower body. He needs 24/7 care and assistance with all daily activities.

Spangler sought damages for past and future medical expenses and loss of income and earning capacity, as well as compensation for pain and suffering. Before his injuries, Spangler worked as a mechanic for Harley Davidson for 26 years.

Defendants in the case included WellSpan York Hospital and Krzeminski, who retired shortly after the incident. Spangler’s complaint alleged negligence and liability — which the defendants denied. Krzeminski and the hospital argued that the care they provided met the applicable standard of care. They also denied that Spangler’s injuries were caused by their actions.

An eight-day trial was held before Judge Matthew Menges in York County Common Pleas Court.

TOPICS
Pennsylvania