$970,900 Verdict After Surgeon Left Stomach Perforation Undetected, Causing Sepsis and Permanent Disability

In December 2022, Bruce Clarke, then 76, underwent robotic surgery at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton to repair a paraesophageal hernia. The procedure used a console and screen to guide a camera and instruments inside the body. During the operation, Clarke's surgeon, Dr. John Moon, created a hole in the upper portion of Clarke's stomach. He did not detect the perforation before ending the surgery.

Clarke developed sepsis in the days that followed. The infection set off a cascade of complications, including chronic cough, persistent pain, anxiety, and severe sleep deprivation. By the time the case went to trial, Clarke required permanent care and had lost the independence he held before the surgery.

Gloria Worch and James Cardea of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. in Baltimore took the case to trial in Talbot County. The central question for the jury was whether Dr. Moon violated the standard of care by failing to identify and repair the perforation before concluding the procedure. The defense was handled by Curtis Booth of Booth, Cropper and Marriner in Easton.

The jury deliberated for roughly two and a half hours before finding in Clarke's favor. The award broke down into three categories: $209,000 for past medical bills, $121,900 for future medical expenses, and $640,000 for pain and suffering. The pain-and-suffering component fell within Maryland's statutory cap on noneconomic damages. The total verdict of $970,900 was rendered on April 9, 2026.

James Cardea stated after the verdict that the firm believes this is one of the largest, if not the largest, medical malpractice verdicts in Talbot County history, based on research the team conducted before trial. The Maryland Daily Record reported the verdict on April 14, 2026, with the same characterization from Cardea.