Hall v. Sparks, et al

Case Background

Trial attorney Anthony Hall filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against his orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Dierick Sparks following a carpal tunnel release surgery. He alleged negligence and breach of standard of care, claiming that 80% of his median nerve had been cut.

The case was filed in the

Cause

In December 2019, Anthony Hall received treatment from Dr. Dierick Sparks, an orthopedic surgeon based in Rainbow City. On December 13, 2019, Dr. Sparks performed an endoscopic carpal tunnel release on Hall’s right arm at Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsden.

Dr. Sparks documented in his operative notes that the procedure was completed without complications. However, Hall later disputed this claim. On January 21, 2020, more than a month after the initial surgery, Dr. Gary Maddox conducted a follow-up operation on Hall’s right arm. During this second procedure, Dr. Maddox found that 80% of Hall’s median nerve had been severed at the carpal tunnel level.

Injury

Hall believed that Dr. Sparks had severed the median nerve during the procedure and failed to recognize the injury.

Damages

Since Hall is right-handed, the surgery affected his dominant arm. He claimed that the median nerve damage impaired his ability to work as a trial attorney. Specifically, he found it more difficult to take notes. He sought economic and non-economic damages for the losses suffered by him due to the alleged injury.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Anthony Hall
  • Defendant(s): Dr. Dierick Sparks| The Orthopedic Center, LLC
    • Counsel for Defendant(s): Scott M. Salter | J. Bennett White

Claims

Hall filed a lawsuit against Dr. Sparks and his practice group, The Orthopedic Center, LLC. He accused Dr. Sparks of performing the procedure incorrectly by severing the median nerve. Further, Hall claimed that Dr. Sparks failed to recognize and address the injury.

Defense

Dr. Sparks defended himself by denying that his treatment of Hall violated the standard of care. He argued that any surgical error resulted from Hall’s allegedly unusual anatomy.

Expert Testimony

Hall’s identified expert was Dr. Julian Aldridge, III, an orthopedic surgeon from Durham, NC. Dr. Aldridge contradicted the testimony provided by Dr. Sparks’ team. He argued that Hall’s anatomy was not, in fact, abnormal.

Jury Verdict

The trial in Gadsden lasted five days. On September 27, 2024, the jury delivered a defense verdict. They cleared Dr. Sparks and his practice group of any wrongdoing. Following the jury’s decision, the court entered a judgment in favor of the defense.

Court Documents:

Available upon request