A Cook County man is suing a hospital over alleged negligence claims after losing his eye after an altercation.
Kenneth Maltbia filed suit on Sept. 14 in Cook County Circuit Court, Law Division against Jackson Park Hospital Foundation; David E. Williams, M.D., individually and as an agent of Jackson Park Hospital Foundation; and Robert T. Grossett, M.D., individually and as an agent of Jackson Park Hospital Foundation.
According to the complaint, on Sept. 24, 2013, Maltbia arrived at the emergency room of the Jackson Park Hospital, complaining of pains in his eye, which was allegedly grossly swollen and draining blood and which he was unable to open, which was associated with kicks and punches to the face received before arriving.
The plaintiff received various tests and scans, but his doctors, listed above, were allegedly unable to determine whether it was an acute or chronic injury and recommended clinical correlation, according to the complaint. They allegedly did not attempt to open the eye, nor did they recommend him to an ophthalmologist.
Several days later, a white substance allegedly oozed out of the eye, and he experienced extreme pain. When finally able to open his eye, he could not see from it, and sought treatment at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There, he was allegedly diagnosed with a ruptured globe in his left eye, and a resulting eye infection, which required his eye to be surgically removed and replaced with a glass one, the complaint states.
The plaintiff is suing for various acts of negligence on behalf of the two doctors in question and the hospital that employed them. He also has a signed opinion that negligence was involved from a medical professional. He is suing for damages of more than $50,000 and demands a trial by jury.
The plaintiff is being represented by Megan O'Connor of the Daratany Firm of Chicago.