WKD Law is pleased to announce a significant victory for our client, Julie Shaw, in a medical malpractice trial held in Multnomah County Court, Portland, Oregon. The jury awarded Ms. Shaw $3 million in damages after determining that her podiatrist, Michael Gentile, D.P.M., was negligent in his treatment, which resulted in permanent injuries.
The case originated when Ms. Shaw was referred to Dr. Gentile in Portland for treatment of a congenital bunion deformity and alignment issues in her forefoot. During the evaluation, Dr. Gentile diagnosed an additional condition—a “flat foot”—and recommended a surgical procedure called an “Evans” osteotomy, which involves cutting the heel bone and inserting an orthopedic wedge to correct alignment.
On November 21, 2018, Dr. Gentile performed the Evans osteotomy on the rear of Ms. Shaw’s foot, cutting her heel bone (the calcaneus) into two parts and inserting the wedge. Unfortunately, the procedure failed to heal properly. Despite multiple subsequent efforts to salvage Ms. Shaw’s foot, the surgery left her with permanent injuries and ongoing complications.
The facts in this medical malpractice case were clear. Ms. Shaw alleged that Dr. Gentile was negligent in several key areas: misreading her x-rays before and after the surgery, recommending and performing an unnecessary procedure, and failing to promptly recognize and address the complications that arose during and after the surgery. These failures resulted in significant and lasting harm to Ms. Shaw.
During the trial in Portland, our legal team, led by Keith Dozier, demonstrated that Dr. Gentile’s actions directly contributed to Ms. Shaw’s injuries. After carefully reviewing the evidence, the jury in Multnomah County Court found in favor of Ms. Shaw, awarding her $3 million in compensation for her pain, suffering, and damages.
This medical malpractice verdict highlights our commitment to holding healthcare providers accountable for negligent care. Ms. Shaw’s case underscores the importance of accurate medical diagnoses and timely, appropriate treatment to prevent unnecessary harm.
WKD Law, based in Portland, Oregon, remains dedicated to advocating for clients who have suffered from medical malpractice. We are honored to have secured justice for Ms. Shaw and will continue to fight for those affected by healthcare negligence in Oregon.