Defense Attorneys Scrutinize Jurors on Recent Malpractice Verdict

By Laura Vogltanz

Published on June 26, 2006

Jeannette Davis, a Florida resident, was awarded one of the largest malpractice verdicts in Central Florida history. In 2001, she had a faulty operation that left her with the inability to urinate naturally. As a result, she must catheterize herself twice a day for the rest of her life.

Attorneys for defendant Dr. Robert Bowles and his medical group feel justice was not served by this verdict and they plan to pursue all appropriate remedies, including interviewing certain jurors that lied during jury selection.

Attorney Richard Womble alleges that three jurors lied during the jury selection process. Two failed to disclose information about previous lawsuits they were involved in, and another lied about how many. Most of these suits deal with unpaid debt; however Womble argues this is evidence of juror prejudice. He says jurors gave Davis money for things she never requested such as medical bills and future economic loss.

Since the decision, Womble has filed several other motions that attack the verdict in other ways. Attorneys will present their arguments in front of Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson in the near future.

Comment on this article →