A Cook County jury awarded more than $5 million to a man who lost of the use and feeling in his left leg below the
knee following a 2013 hip replacement surgery.

A verdict was reached Friday after a trial before Associate Judge Mary R. Minella.

On June 25, 2013, Jesus Torres had a scheduled left hip replacement surgery at Thorek Memorial Hospital on the city’s North Side. The surgery was performed by orthopedic surgeon Peter Snitovsky. Snitovsky was employed by Alex Orthopedics LLC.

Snitovsky injured an artery during the surgery, which is a complication of the procedure, according to Michael C. Mead of Faklis, Tallis & Mead P.C.

After the procedure was complete around 6 p.m. that day Snitovsky, who was no longer at the hospital, received calls from nurses at the hospital around 7:15 and 9 p.m. that Torres had no pulse in his foot and no feeling from the knee down.

Even though those symptoms indicated the likelihood of a “vascular emergency” Snitovsky did not issue any orders, Mead said.

An orthopedic surgeon was called to consult on the case but by then the nerves and muscles had died and Torres sustained permanent nerve and muscle damage.

Torres, now 72, has no movement or feeling below the knee and he has to wear a brace to walk, Mead said. He was in the hospital for roughly five weeks and spent two years receiving rehabilitative care.

Mead contended at trial that had the surgeon promptly ordered a follow-up when he first was told about Torres’ symptoms he could have made a full or near full recovery.

Snitovsky’s attorneys argued the “house” doctor who was present at the hospital and working overnight was notified of Torres’ condition and could have made a decision on how to proceed.

The house doctor settled with Torres prior to trial. Torres was also represented by Jeffrey J. Tallis and Nicholas J. Faklis, also of Faklis, Tallis & Mead P.C.

Prior to the incident, Torres was an active man who would walk around an hour each day, do repairs for his neighbors and visit his brother’s ranch in Mexico. Torres immigrated from Mexico to the United States in his 30s, working as a bus boy and factory worker, Mead said.

“To have this happen in his retirement when he was looking forward to being this active, energetic guy, it was a devastating injury,” Tallis said.

Snitovsky was represented by Charles F. Redden and Kipp B. Cornell of Cunningham Meyer & Vedrine P.C. They could not be reached for comment.

The case is Jesus Torres v. Peter Snitovsky, M.D., et al., 17 L 7625.