Mario Maldonado vs. Timothy Snelson, MD, and Mayo Clinic Health System-Fairmont

Case Background

On March 23, 2023, Plaintiff Mario Maldonado filed a Medical malpractice lawsuit in the Minnesota State, District Court of Martin County (Case number: 46-CV-23-220). Judge Darci J. Bentz presided over the case.

Cause

On October 13, 2017, Mario Maldonado, an elite high school athlete, sustained a severe tibia/fibula fracture during a Friday night football game. The following morning, Dr. Corey Welchlin performed intramedullary tibial nailing surgery at Mayo Clinic Health System-Fairmont. Dr. Welchlin noted no complications after completing the surgery at 9:53 a.m. Before Mario’s discharge, he educated Mario and his mother on compartment syndrome, warning them about symptoms such as sudden, excruciating pain that would not be controlled by narcotic medication. Despite Mario and his mother expressing serious concerns about his uncontrolled pain, Dr. Welchlin discharged him at 17:38 CDT. Hospital staff denied Mario’s request to remain hospitalized until Sunday, stating they could not reach Dr. Welchlin and could not override his discharge orders. Within hours of arriving home, Mario experienced extreme pain, which caused him to punch walls and cry uncontrollably, even while taking his prescribed narcotic medication. At 3:54 a.m. on Sunday, October 15,