Jury awards $543K in lawsuit against outpatient surgery center

A jury recently awarded a banker more than half a million dollars after it determined a Pismo Beach outpatient surgical center had been negligent in his care.

Charles Blevins filed a medical malpractice complaint more than a year after he developed a severe deep-tissue infection following arthroscopic knee surgery at Coastal Surgical Institute.

It was later determined that medical devices used in his surgery were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, which led to an infection.

On Dec. 13, a jury determined that the center’s negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to Blevins, and awarded him $543,034 for lost earnings, past and future medical expenses, and for past and future pain and suffering.

“The product at fault in this case is a disinfecting sponge used to clean surgical equipment. … Coastal Surgical Institute provided necessary care and follow up to Mr. Blevins and immediately discontinued use of this product.”

According to court documents, Dr. Otto Schueckler performed arthroscopic surgery on Blevins’ right knee on Sept. 10, 2010, but was not named as a defendant in the complaint.

In October 2010, Coastal Surgical Institute gave Blevins a check for $4,116.23. While Blevins’ complaint states the money was a partial payment of costs, court documents filed by Coastal Surgical Institute state that it was final payment for all claims “asserted by plaintiff as a result of any post-operative complications he allegedly sustained.”

Blevins later had total knee replacement surgery in March 2011, and a revision surgery in May 2012. He continues to experience knee pain and his colleagues at Founders Community Bank, where he is a senior vice president, have modified his schedule.

Thanks to CYNTHIA LAMBERT and The Tribune.