Fostoria pair win malpractice lawsuit

10/11/2010

A Lucas County Common Pleas Court jury awarded nearly $4 million to a Fostoria couple who had filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Toledo Clinic and one of its doctors.

Jurors deliberated for a day and a half last week before awarding Sherry and Jack Reinhart $3,926,200. Judge Stacy Cook presided over the trial.

According to the couple's lawyers, Chad Tuschman and Peter DeClark, the jurors found Toledo Clinic and Dr. Purvi Saraiya were negligent in medical care rendered to Mrs. Reinhart, which caused a permanent injury, including paralysis, because of violations of safety rules in performing a lumbar puncture procedure in May, 2008.

The Toledo Hospital was initially a defendant in the lawsuit but had settled prior to trial.

Mr. Tuschman said that the jury was very attentive and reached an unanimous verdict.

“The message is that doctors are not allowed to violate safety rules and when they do, the community will hold them accountable,” Mr. Tuschman said.