We are proud to share a major legal victory recently featured in the New Jersey Law Journal: Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinar partner Jeffrey J. Zenna successfully obtained a $2.04 million jury verdict for a client injured due to a preventable surgical error.
The Case: Surgical Mistake Leaves Patient with Lasting Damage
The plaintiff sought surgery to repair a torn left bicep tendon suffered during a weightlifting accident. The operation should have restored the plaintiff’s mobility. Instead, it left him with significant pain and impaired hand function.
Jeff argued that during the procedure, the surgeon severed a nerve, an act that went well beyond the accepted risks of surgery. The plaintiff required a second operation with a different physician and months of physical therapy to regain functionality.
The Legal Challenge: Debunking the “Inherent Risk” Defense
The defense contended that the plaintiff’s symptoms were consistent with neuropraxia—a temporary, known complication of this type of surgery. However, Jeff presented compelling evidence, including expert testimony from an orthopedic surgeon, that the nerve was not merely bruised or stretched but cut in half.
Jeff explained, “It wasn’t an inherent risk. The surgeon transected a nerve. The injury would have been avoided with proper surgical technique.”
This distinction proved pivotal in establishing negligence.
The Outcome: $2,040,000 in Damages for Pain, Disability, and Loss of Enjoyment of Life
After an eight-day trial and four hours of jury deliberation, the jury awarded the plaintiff $2.04 million for pain and suffering, disability, impairment, and diminished enjoyment of life. The jury assigned 100% liability to the surgeon, fully endorsing Jeff’s argument that the injury was avoidable and caused by surgical error.
This Case Marks Another Successful Outcome for Blume Forte’s Medical Malpractice LItigation Results
This case represents yet another successful outcome from Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari’s medical malpractice team. Over the years, the firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients injured by medical negligence, building a reputation as one of New Jersey’s most trusted names in this complex area of law. The firm’s medical malpractice attorneys are supported by the firm’s full-time physicians and nurses, as well as an extensive on-site medical library.
Jeffrey Zenna, who has been practicing law for more than 32 years, is a key member of the firm’s medical malpractice group. He has been repeatedly recognized by his peers and selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list. With a deep bench of talent and a long history of success, Blume Forte remains a fierce advocate for individuals harmed by preventable medical mistakes—bringing both compassion and exceptional legal skill to every case.
Read the full New Jersey Law Journal article.