Joel Meyer et al v. Anne-Marie Boller, MD et al

On July 3, 2024, the jury unanimously awarded $2,000,000 in damages to the plaintiff in their medical malpractice case against St. Mary's Medical Center.

Case Background

Joel Meyer and Heather Meyer filed the Medical malpractice lawsuit on November 28, 2022, in the Minnesota State District Court of St. Louis County (Case number: 69DU-CV-22-2501). Judge Shawn L. Pearson presided over the case.

Cause

Joel Meyer, a cancer patient from Nisswa, Minnesota, underwent a complex, multiple-stage surgery at Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, beginning on July 9, 2021. Drs. Anne-Marie Boller and Ryan Groeschl, both based in Duluth, performed two of the surgical procedures. Following the completion of all three stages of the surgery, medical staff erroneously reported that all surgical sponge counts were correct. Meyer's post-operative recovery was problematic, he remained hospitalized for 11 days, making little progress and experiencing numerous adverse medical issues. On July 22, 2021, due to worsening symptoms and significant weight loss, Meyer sought emergency medical attention. A subsequent CT scan revealed a foreign body in his abdomen, consistent with a retained surgical sponge. The scan also showed a bile leak with a large fluid collection in the right abdomen, likely secondary to the cholecystectomy and liver resection performed during the initial surgery. Additionally, a pelvic abscess was noted near the rectal anastomosis, adjacent to the foreign body. Meyer then underwent an emergency exploratory laparotomy to remove the retained sponge and address the complications.

Injuries

The presence of the retained surgical sponge resulted in severe and debilitating complications for Meyer. These included delirium, which affected his cognitive function and awareness. Severe dehydration necessitated fluid replacement therapy. Significant weight loss impacted his overall health and recovery. Meyer also developed depression and anxiety as a result of his prolon