Praful Patel, as the personal representative of the estate of Jayshri Patel vs.  Charles Klodell, M.D., et al

Case Background

On September 1, 2021, Plaintiff  Praful Patel, as the personal representative of the estate of Jayshri Patel, deceased filed a Medical malpractice lawsuit in the Circuit Court of  Alachua County, Florida (Case number:  2021 CA 002504). Judge Keim presided over this case.

Cause

In March 2020, Jayshri Patel underwent triple valve surgery, including aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, and tricuspid valve repair, at North Florida Regional Medical Center. Dr. Charles Klodell performed the surgery on March 11, 2020, starting at 9:52 AM and finishing around 4:20 PM. During the operation, an intraoperative echocardiogram revealed a new inferior wall abnormality. At 4:27 PM, Patel’s first post-operative EKG displayed significant changes compared to her pre-operative EKG. Physician Assistant Allison Ceccardi examined Patel in the ICU at 4:31 PM but failed to notify Dr. Klodell about the EKG changes. On March 12, a transthoracic echocardiogram showed severe left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Patel’s condition worsened, requiring intubation on March 13. On March 15, she suffered a myocardial infarction and was rushed to the cardiac catheterization lab, where doctors found an occluded circumflex artery that required ECMO support.

Injuries

The primary injury stemmed from medical malpractice, which ultimately led to wrongful death. Patel suffered a post-operative myocardial infarction due to an undiagnosed circumflex artery occlusion during valve replacement surgery. This surgical complication triggered severe cardiac dysfunction, respiratory failure, and, tragically, resulted in Patel’s death on March 15, 2020.

Damages

The estate and family members incurred substantial damages. The Estate of Jayshri Patel faced medical expenses, hospital costs, doctor fees, nursing expenses, burial expenses, funeral costs, and lost net accumulations. Praful Patel, the deceased’s husband, experienced mental pain and suffering, loss of companionship and protection, and the loss of support and services. Their son, Akshar Patel, is also a statutory claimant under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Praful Patel, as the personal representative of the estate of Jayshri Patel, deceased
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Grant A. Kuvin| Jack T Cook
  • Defendant(s): Charles Klodell, M.D. | North Florida Surgical Associates, LLC, d/b/a Florida Heart & Lung Institute | North Florida Regional Medical Center, Inc., d/b/a North Florida Regional Medical Center
    • Counsel for Defendants: Jenifer S. Worley | Taylor A. Morgan

Claims

The medical malpractice lawsuit alleged professional medical negligence against Dr. Charles Klodell, North Florida Surgical Associates (d/b/a Florida Heart & Lung Institute), and North Florida Regional Medical Center. Specifically, Dr. Klodell failed to recognize and address intraoperative myocardial dysfunction. He neglected the echocardiogram findings that showed reduced right ventricular function. Dr. Klodell did not timely evaluate the patient post-operatively. He also failed to perform necessary bypass grafting or urgent cardiac catheterization. He also failed to act upon concerning post-operative EKG findings and did not properly supervise his physician assistant.

Defense

The defendants—Dr. Charles Klodell, North Florida Surgical Associates LLC (d/b/a Florida Heart & Lung Institute), and North Florida Regional Medical Center—filed their answer and affirmative defenses to the plaintiff’s complaint. They admitted only basic facts, such as Dr. Klodell performing the surgery and Patel’s death on March 15, 2020. They denied all allegations of negligence and wrongdoing.

In their affirmative defenses, the defendants claimed protection under the Wrongful Death Act. They argued that any damages resulted from independent, unforeseeable, or pre-existing causes beyond their control. The defendants maintained that any damages arose from the actions of individuals who were not their employees or agents. They also contended that Patel’s damages stemmed from an idiosyncratic or idiopathic process, rather than any acts or omissions on their part.

The defendants requested reductions in any damages based on collateral source payments. They also sought setoffs for any settlements related to the case, citing the Goble v. Frohman case for medical bill write-offs. The defendants raised the issue of failure to mitigate damages. They suggested that Patel may not have reported accurate symptoms or sought appropriate care in a timely manner. They invoked Florida Statute § 768.78, which pertains to the payment structure for future economic damages exceeding $250,000. The defendants demanded a jury trial on all triable issues. They denied all claims related to intraoperative complications, post-operative care, and supervision of medical staff.

Jury Verdict

On August 16, 2024, the jury ultimately attributed 100% of the negligence to Dr. Charles Klodell, M.D., and 0% to North Florida Regional Medical Center. They awarded significant damages to Patel’s surviving family members. Praful Patel, Jayshri’s husband, received $200,000 for past damages and $400,000 for future damages, totaling $600,000 for the loss of companionship, protection, and mental pain and suffering. Their son, Akshar Patel, was awarded $200,000 for past damages and $400,000 for future damages, totaling $600,000 for the loss of parental companionship, instruction, guidance, and mental pain and suffering. In total, the damages awarded amounted to $1.2 million in medical malpractice lawsuit.

Court Documents:

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