CHARLESTON – A Charleston physician is facing allegations of negligence from a patient who claims her vocal cords were injured during a surgery.
Shelbie Pomeroy filed a complaint Jan. 8 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Michael Covelli, M.D., alleging he failed to apply the knowledge and use the skills ordinarily used by qualified surgeon.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on June 4, 2015, she underwent parathyroidectomy surgery performed by defendant at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston. She alleges during surgery, her recurrent laryngeal nerves were injured, causing permanent damage to her vocal cords.
The plaintiff holds Covelli responsible because the defendant allegedly negligently divided her recurrent laryngeal nerve during the surgery and failed to advise her of the division.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, plus interest, costs, fees and all further relief to which she may be entitled to receive. She is represented by Richard D. Lindsay and Rich D. Lindsay of Tabor Lindsay & Associates in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 18-C-22