Jury Awards $5M for Leg Amputation in Medical Malpractice Case
Table of Contents
Case Background
Michael Errar filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Steven H. Katz and Inphynet South Broward LLC in the Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward County, Florida. The case centered on events that took place at Memorial Hospital West in January 2016, when Errar visited the emergency room complaining of severe right leg pain.
Cause
On January 5, 2016, at 8:06 a.m., Errar presented to the emergency room at Memorial Hospital West with complaints of shooting pain radiating down his right leg. He described the sensation as pain shooting down his leg and denied any recent heavy lifting, injury, or trauma. His medical history included a cerebral artery occlusion with cerebral infarction, arrhythmia, and atrial fibrillation.
Dr. Katz examined Errar during this emergency room visit. Despite the patient's symptoms and significant medical history, Dr. Katz discharged Errar at 10:43 a.m. with diagnoses of right groin pain, right leg pain, and essential hypertension. The physician did not admit Errar for further management or conduct additional diagnostic work.
Injury
Errar's condition deteriorated after his discharge. He returned to Memorial Hospital West three days later, on January 8, 2016, in far worse condition. At that point, doctors diagnosed him with an ischemic leg that required amputation. The delay in proper diagnosis and treatment resulted in the loss of Errar's leg.
The amputation caused significant and permanent changes to Errar's life. He experienced ongoing pain and suffering, physical disability, disfigurement, and mental anguish. The injury affected his ability to work and earn a living. He required extensive medical care, equipment, and supplies both immediately after the amputation and on an ongoing basis.
Damages Sought
Errar initially filed his complaint on June 28, 2018, seeking damages in excess of $15,000. The lawsuit named four Defendants: Dr. Steven H. Katz, Team Health Inc., Inphynet South Broward LLC, and South Broward Hospital District doing business as Memorial Hospital West. By the time the case went to trial, only Dr. Katz and Inphynet South Broward LLC remained as Defendants.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The lawsuit proceeded through the Court system for over seven years before reaching a jury trial in November 2025.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Michael Errar
· Counsel for Plaintiff: Gregg A. Silverstein | Alejandro Alvarez
· Experts for Plaintiff: Frederick Anthony Raffa | Paul E. Kleinschmidt | David C. Brewster | Susan K. McKenzie | Alon Payenson | Jesse Areopagita | Nancy Tran | Jeremy Jacobs | Selboume Goode | Veena Subramanian | Patricia Tanya Wade | Neil J. Weiner
Defendant: Dr. Steven H. Katz | Inphynet South Broward LLC
· Counsel for Defendants: James J. Nosich | Michael R. Odrobina | Alyssa Mandi Tornberg | Jonathan M Midwall | Scott D Knapp | Aline O Marcantonio | William F. Fink | Robert E Paradela | Rebecca Danielle Bovinet
· Experts for Defendant: Sharon Coffey | C. Michael Collins | Peter L. Faries | Julianne Frain | Finnie Cook | Michael JohannesVanRooyen
Claims
The complaint alleged that Dr. Katz breached the standard of care that similar healthcare providers would have provided under the circumstances. Errar's attorneys argued that the physician failed in multiple respects during the January 5, 2016 emergency room visit.
Failure to Properly Diagnose
The lawsuit claimed Dr. Katz negligently failed to timely and properly diagnose and treat Errar's underlying condition. Given the patient's symptoms of severe leg pain combined with his history of cerebral artery occlusion, arrhythmia, and atrial fibrillation, the physician should have recognized the serious nature of the situation.
Inadequate Assessment and Monitoring
The complaint alleged Dr. Katz failed to properly assess Errar's underlying condition and did not perform complete examinations. He failed to properly monitor what the lawsuit described as a catastrophic condition. The physician did not follow up in a timely fashion regarding proper diagnostic studies.
Premature Discharge
The lawsuit claimed Dr. Katz made an improper decision to discharge Errar rather than admitting him for further management. The physician failed to refer the patient to a qualified specialist in a timely manner and did not make proper timely intervention.
Failure to Supervise
The complaint also alleged that Dr. Katz failed to timely supervise Errar's condition so that when the patient exhibited worsening symptoms, appropriate and timely measures could have been taken to correct those symptoms.
Errar also brought claims against Inphynet South Broward LLC, the physician's employer. The lawsuit alleged the company failed to properly supervise the care and treatment Dr. Katz provided. The complaint claimed the company breached its duty to Errar by failing to ensure appropriate care and treatment, failing to implement proper protocols, and failing to properly supervise and monitor the physicians it employed.
Defense
The Defendants filed their answer and affirmative defenses on July 20, 2018. Dr. Katz and Inphynet South Broward LLC denied the allegations of negligence and causation.
Denial of Causation
As their first affirmative defense, the Defendants specifically denied all allegations of causation. They argued they were not guilty of any negligence and did not cause or contribute to the alleged damages.
Comparative Negligence
The Defendants claimed that Errar himself was guilty of negligence and carelessness, and that his own negligence was the sole and proximate cause of his alleged damages. They argued this barred him from recovery in whole or in part on grounds of comparative negligence.
Intervening Medical Condition
The Defendants contended that Errar's damages, if any, were caused by an intervening medical condition that was not itself a result of any negligence on their part. They argued that recovery against them should therefore be denied.
Statutory Protections
The Defendants raised several statutory defenses. They invoked the benefits of Florida Statute Section 768.81, which addresses joint and several liability. They also claimed entitlement to any caps on non-economic damages under Florida Statutes Chapter 766. Additionally, they argued the Good Samaritan Act under Florida Statute Section 768.13(b) barred the Plaintiff's claims.
Collateral Source Set-Off
The Defendants stated they were entitled to a set-off for all sums paid or payable by collateral sources, which could reduce any damages award.
The Defendants also claimed any damages should be apportioned based on the total fault of all participants who might be responsible, not just their own alleged negligence.
Jury Verdict
After hearing all the evidence and arguments, the jury returned its verdict on November 21, 2025. The jury found in favor of the Plaintiff on the key liability question.
The jury determined that Dr. Steven H. Katz was negligent and that his negligence was a legal cause of loss, injury, and damage to Michael Errar. This finding meant the jury rejected the Defendants' arguments that Dr. Katz met the standard of care or that other factors caused Errar's injuries.
The jury then calculated damages across several categories, considering both past losses that Errar already incurred and future losses he would continue to experience.
The jury awarded $1,018,353 for medical expenses, equipment, and supplies Errar incurred in the past. For future medical expenses, equipment, and supplies, the jury awarded $827,720. This recognized that Errar would need continued medical care, replacement prosthetic devices, and other medical supplies for the rest of his life.
The jury awarded $392,426 for lost earnings and loss of earning capacity in the past. For future lost earnings and loss of earning capacity, the jury awarded $602,955. This amount reflected the impact the amputation would have on Errar's ability to work and earn income for the remainder of his working life.
The jury awarded $1,079,273 for pain and suffering, disability, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, and loss of capacity for enjoyment of life that Errar experienced in the past. For future pain and suffering, disability, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, and loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, the jury awarded another $1,079,273. This recognized that Errar would continue to experience these losses for the rest of his life.
The jury's total damages award came to exactly $5,000,000, bringing the seven-year legal battle to a close with a significant victory for the Plaintiff.