TOCCOA—A Stephens County jury took three hours in a medical malpractice suit before returning a $1 million verdict, which is believed to be a record for the county.
That's according to a press release from Cornwell Law in Toccoa.
No appeal is expected in Williams v. Buchanan, which was awarded to the plaintiff, Wilbert "Bobby" Williams.
Superior Court Judge Russell W. Smith presided over the case.
"Williams, an elderly resident of Stephens County, sought medical malpractice damages from a simple surgical procedure which resulted in irreparable, permanent physical and psychological harm," the press release reads.
The surgeon, Dr. Robert Buchanan, was found guilty of using a "totally inappropriate surgical site selection" that brought about "impairments (that) include ... not being able to blink or close one eye."
Williams now must tape his eye shut in order to sleep, and experiences facial numbness and contast tearing in one eye.
Buchanan formerly practiced in Toccoa, but now lives out of state.
The $1 million decision is believed to the be the largest in the Mountain Judicial Circuit for a case not involving a death.
