MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

PALM BEACH CIRCUIT COURT

A 49-year-old substitute teacher was awarded $350,419 after her dentist was found to have committed medical malpractice.

The dentist allegedly failed to remove decay from a tooth before installing a bridge, leading to the extraction of three teeth and a temporary disfigurement of the plaintiff's mouth. The patient also required a new crown on a fourth tooth and ultimately required treatment from multiple dentists.

The defense claimed a fractured tooth caused the bridge failure and said the other teeth would have required extraction regardless of the dentist's actions. The plaintiff received $14,019 for past medical costs, $186,400 for past pain and suffering and $150,000 for future pain and suffering.

Case: Hanna v. Martone

Case No.: 50-2014-CA-000508-XXXX-MB

Plaintiffs attorney: Lisa S. Levine, Lisa S. Levine P.A., Weston

Defense attorney: Brian Russell, Bobo, Ciotoli, White & Russell, Palm Beach Gardens