In a significant legal battle involving allegations of medical malpractice, the Ohio First District Court of Appeals delivered a mixed verdict on November 26, 2025. The court partially affirmed and partially reversed previous judgments against a doctor accused of performing unnecessary surgeries. The case was filed by Lenora Haggard and Thomas Meyers in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas against Dr. Abubakar Atiq Durrani and the Center for Advanced Spine Technologies (CAST).
The plaintiffs, Haggard and Meyers, accused Dr. Durrani of conducting medically unnecessary back surgeries that resulted in severe complications. They alleged multiple counts including battery, negligence, fraud, and lack of informed consent among others. The jury had previously awarded substantial damages to both plaintiffs, including punitive damages amounting to $5 million each. However, upon appeal, the court found errors in the calculation of punitive damages and remanded the case for recalculations.
Haggard’s ordeal began when she sought treatment from Dr. Durrani for chronic back pain. Despite being told that surgery would be an easy fix for her condition, she experienced worsening pain post-surgery and was left unable to perform simple daily tasks. Similarly, Meyers was assured by Dr. Durrani that surgery would permanently resolve his issues but instead faced increased pain and further limitations after undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
Expert testimonies played a crucial role in the trial. Dr. Stephen Bloomfield testified that neither plaintiff was a suitable candidate for surgery based on their medical conditions as indicated by their MRI scans. He also criticized the informed consent process as lacking necessary details about the procedures performed. Another expert, Dr. Keith Wilkey, supported these claims by highlighting how Durrani’s surgeries aggravated pre-existing conditions rather than alleviating them.
Despite these testimonies supporting the plaintiffs’ claims, the appellate court identified several procedural errors during the trial process which necessitated partial reversals of earlier judgments. Notably, it was determined that punitive damages should be capped at $350,000 per plaintiff due to statutory limits applicable to individuals like Dr. Durrani under Ohio law.
The court also addressed other legal issues raised on appeal such as improper admission of certain testimonies and failure to join health insurers as necessary parties during litigation – though these were largely upheld or deemed harmless errors not warranting new trials.
Representing Haggard and Meyers were attorneys from Statman Harris LLC with Alan Statman leading their legal team while Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP defended Dr. Durrani with Philip D Williamson among others acting as counsel for appellants before Judges Kinsley presiding over proceedings alongside Bock & Nestor JJ., Case ID C-240300/301 respectively marking this high-profile dispute within Ohio’s judicial system landscape.
Source: C240300_Haggard_v_Durrani_MD_Opinion_Ohio_Court_of_Appeals.pdf
