Chafin
WILLIAMSON – Truman Chafin, majority leader in the West Virginia Senate and a lawyer, helped a Williamson couple win a $2.5 million verdict in a medical malpractice case.
Chafin, Letitia Neese Chafin and Louisa, Ky., lawyer Mike Hogan represented Sophia and Darrell Savage.
The Savages filed a lawsuit in Lawrence County, Ky. against Three Rivers Medical Center alleging surgeons there left a surgical sponge in Sophia's abdomen.
The malpractice occurred during a Dec. 14, 2001 hysterectomy Sophia underwent at the hospital, where she also worked as a nurse.
The sponge wasn't discovered until Sophia had an X-ray at the hospital in April 2005 because of complaints for pain. During surgery to remove the sponge, doctors found that it had matted into her lower intestines.
Surgeons had to remove and reattach 49 centimeters of Sophia's intestines during the procedure, according to information provided by Chafin. Sophia will continue to have pain into the future.
Following a three-day trial in Lawrence Circuit Court, a jury on Wednesday found in favor of the Savages.
They awarded Sophia $1.9 million for past and future pain and suffering and $65,968 for past medical expenses. Darrell was awarded $500,000 for loss of consortium.
