On October 7, 2026, BMF Partners Tara M. Clary and Timothy D. Fisher and Senior Counsel Dianna E. Stuart secured a verdict of more than $5 million for their client in a medical negligence case against Dr. Tony Anene-Maidoh and Delaware Neurosurgical Group. A Sussex County, Delaware jury returned the plaintiff’s verdict after 10 days of trial.
On November 23, 2021, Ms. Hill underwent a lumbar spine procedure for low back pain radiating down her left side. The surgery successfully addressed her preoperative symptoms. Eleven days later, on December 4, she was taken by ambulance to the emergency department with sudden, stabbing back pain she rated 10 out of 10. It was different from both her pre-surgery symptoms and the discomfort expected after surgery. Laboratory testing showed an elevated white blood cell count and C-reactive protein, both concerning for infection. The radiologist who read her CT scan suggested an MRI for further evaluation.
Over the following weeks and months, Ms. Hill’s clinical and neurological condition continued to worsen. Although she had a proven superficial bacterial infection, no diagnostic testing or MRI was performed to rule out a deep or spinal infection. She showed dozens of warning signs across repeated emergency department visits, wound care appointments, phone calls and telehealth visits, reporting worsening pain, an inability to walk, and radiating pain and spasms that now affected both legs.
An MRI obtained at any point between December 2021 and early February 2022 would have confirmed a spinal infection while treatment would still have been successful. By the time an MRI finally diagnosed the infection, the imaging showed an advanced spinal infection involving the bone (osteomyelitis) and disc (discitis), soft tissue injury, and displacement of the nerve roots. Because the infection went undiagnosed for so long, Ms. Hill was left with a left foot drop, chronic severe lumbar pain and other neurological injuries.
The jury returned a verdict of more than $5 million in Ms. Hill’s favor. More than $3.5 million was awarded for her pain and suffering and her loss of mobility and independence, with the remainder compensating her for extensive future care needs, lost wages and past medical expenses.