In December, 2015, a California jury awarded Florence Kuhlmann and her husband $79,813,000 in a defective Ethicon PPH 03 surgical stapler lawsuit. The verdict included $4 million for past pain and suffering, $4 million for future pain and suffering, and $513,000 for past and future medical expenses, $1.3 million for past and future loss of consortium, and $70 million in punitive damages against Ethicon.
Specifically, Ms. Kuhlmann, a retired San Jose police officer, underwent a hemorrhoidopexy in January 2010, during which her surgeon, Dr. Rakhee N. Shah, returned prolapsed hemorrhoidal tissue to its position and used the Ethicon PPH 03 surgical stapler. Dr. Shah allegedly had difficulty with the stapler, which was later recalled. Ms. Kuhlman was injured during the surgery when the stapler misfired and caused her anal canal to shut. As a result, Ms. Kuhlman had to endure 21 days of emergency hospitalization, massive infections and multiple major surgeries to try to fix her damaged bowel. Kuhlmann still wears a colostomy bag and suffers from external and internal scarring.
For more information about this lawsuit or other litigations, feel free to contact Pharmaceutical/Medical Device Litigation Attorney Pamela A. Borgess of Borgess Law, LLC at (567) 455-5955 or toll-free at (844) LAW-9144. You can also contact Borgess Law, LLC by submitting an online inquiry or emailing Attorney Borgess directly at pborgess@BorgessLaw.com. Borgess Law, LLC never charges a fee for an initial consultation.