Patient Awarded $4.5 Million in CT's Biggest Dental Malpractice Verdict
by
Joseph C. Maya on Apr. 24, 2017
Accident & Injury Accident & Injury Medical Malpractice Lawsuit & Dispute Lawsuit
Summary: Blog post about a large award given for a root canal that performed incorrectly.
Contact the personal injury attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. today. We can help you get the just compensation you deserve for your injuries or those of a loved one. For a free initial consultation, call 203-221-3100 or email JMaya@Mayalaw.com.
In the case of Sarin v. Simms, a patient filed a lawsuit against her dentist after a root canal went wrong. The patient ’s lawyers say the result was likely the biggest dental malpractice verdict in Connecticut history.
Darryl Simms, of Farmington Family Dentistry, performed the root canal on Supriya Sarin on March 15, 2011. Root canals are typically performed to save a tooth that is badly decayed. The insides of the tooth, including pulp and a nerve, are removed and the rest of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Robert Simpson, the patient ’s attorney, explained the complications that occurred in this case by drawing an analogy to an ice cream cone. A sealer goes in to fill the bottom of the cone. Another substance is used to fill in the cracks along the sides. With this root canal, Simpson said the bottom of the ice cream cone in his analogy was ripped after the doctor cut too far down with his instruments, creating an extra-deep hole. As such, the sealer went too far down into the jaw, to an important nerve in the mandibular canal. The patient claims nerve injury has cause her pain ever since the root canal.
The patient says the unrelenting pain requires her to take frequent doses of pain medication, which cause fatigue. The pain also causes irregular sleep, and the patient, who was a corporate executive, now must work from home. She claimed that the pain has negatively affected interactions with her husband and children. For example, kissing causes pain.
The patient filed a $750,000 offer of compromise in 2013. The plaintiff ’s final demand to settle the case was for $550,000. The defense’s highest offer was $200,000. The case ultimately went to trial. The patient asked the jury for between about $1.5 million and $2.5 million. The jury came back with an award of $4.5 million. Of that amount, $4,335,000 was for noneconomic damages to cover pain and suffering, as well as loss of enjoyment.
Jeff Forte, Top Connecticut Verdicts & Settlements of 2015, CONN. LAW TRBN. at 8 (July 2016) discussing Supriya Sarin v. Darryl A. Simms, D.M.D., et al.
At Maya Murphy, P.C., our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to achieving the best results for individuals and their family members and loved ones whose daily lives have been disrupted by injury, whether caused by a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident, a slip and fall, medical malpractice, a defective product, or otherwise. Our attorneys are not afraid to aggressively pursue and litigate cases and have extensive experience litigating personal injury matters in both state and federal courts, and always with regard to the unique circumstances of our client and the injury he or she has sustained.
Please contact Joseph C. Maya, Esq., at 203-221-3100, or at JMaya@mayalaw.com, to schedule a free consultation.
Source: Jeff Forte, Top Connecticut Verdicts & Settlements of 2015, CONN. LAW TRBN. at 8 (July 2016) discussing Supriya Sarin v. Darryl A. Simms, D.M.D., et al.
