In August 2023, a Court of Common Pleas jury found that sports medicine surgeon Dr. James Bradley and rehabilitation institute Rothman Orthopaedics Associates (ROA) were negligent in their medical treatment and thus responsible for the premature end of Maragos’ professional football career and his lifelong disability…insurancejournal.com, Former NFL Player’s $43.5 Million Score in Medical Malpractice Case Upheld, Andrew G. Simpson, September 2024
During an October 12, 2017 game against the Carolina Panthers, Maragos suffered a meniscus tear in his right knee. In 2018, Maragos sued for medical malpractice, alleging that Bradley and ROA failed to properly treat the tear in an initial surgery and also mismanaged his post-operative rehabilitation in a way that caused further damage. He says he continues to suffer pain and disability as a result of the improper repair and rehab of his knee injury.
A Court of Common Pleas jury trial was held over two weeks starting in January 2022. During the trial, the jury heard testimony from key experts in orthopedic medicine, as well as Maragos’ former teammates. Medical experts for Maragos testified that the meniscus tear should have been surgically repaired in the initial surgery and that no rehabilitation should have occurred until the meniscus repaired.
Following trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Maragos in the amount of $43.5 million, apportioning liability at 67% for Bradley and 33% for ROA.
ROA appealed the verdict as not supported by the evidence and asked for a new trial. But Court of Common Pleas Justice Charles J. Cunningham, III, backed the jury and rejected the appeals, finding that the medical testimony that the jury accepted as true supported the verdict.
ROA again appealed and last week the Superior Court of Pennsylvania agreed with the Court of Common Pleas in upholding the award and denying a new trial.