Doctor botched man's kidney surgery, couple claims

CHARLESTON -- A Holden man is suing the surgeon who allegedly injured him during a kidney operation.

Julius M. Lukacs and Norma Lukacs filed suit June 24 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Dr. James P. Tierney.

According to the complaint, on Dec. 17, 2012, Julius Lukacs came to Charleston Area Medical Center to undergo surgery for kidney cancer performed by the defendant. During the operation, Tierney negligently tied and cut the artery for the right kidney instead of the left kidney, the suit states.

The cancerous left kidney was subsequently removed and an unsuccessful attempt was made to repair the damage to the right kidney, so Lukacs needed to go on dialysis, the filing states.

The defendant is accused of acting with reckless disregard of risk of harm to the plaintiff and causing a permanent and debilitating injury.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages and fees.

They are represented by Charleston attorney Richard D. Lindsay of Tabor Lindsay & Associates PLLC. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court Case No. 14-C-1140