Date: 03-01-2006

Case Style: Arturo Iturralde v. Dr. Robert Ricketson and Hawaii Health Systems Corp. d/b/a Hilo Medical Center

Case Number: Unknown

Judge: Glenn Hara

Court: Circuit Court, Hawaii County, Hawaii

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Mark Davis of Davis Levin Livingston Grande, Honolulu, Hawaii

Defendant's Attorney: Unknown

Description:

Arturo Iturralde sued Dr. Robert Ricketson and Hilo Medical Center on a medical malpractice theory claiming that Dr. Ricketson acted below the standard of care when he implanted the shaft of a screwdriver into his spine after the two titanium rods that he had intended to use were discovered to be missing from the operating room at the Hilo Medical Center. the stainless steel screwdriver shafts snapped shortly after being placed in Plaintiff's back and he had to undergo additional surgeries. The 73-year-old Hawaiian died two years after the 2001 surgery.

Dr. Ricketson denied that the care that he provided was below the standard of care.

Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict for $5.6 million including $3.4 in punitive damages.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: None