Oneill v. Kiledjian

This medical malpractice case was tried in federal court at Memphis, jurisdiction having been invoked on the basis of diversity of citizenship. Peggy Sue ONeill and her husband charged the defendant, Dr. Vartkes Kiledjian, with negligence in his treatment of Mrs. ONeill. Specifically, it was alleged that complications followed the total removal by the defendant of the remainder of her thyroid gland in September 1972. Essentially, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendant was negligent, first, in his diagnosis and treatment of the condition, and secondly, in the surgical procedure to remove the gland. At the conclusion of the evidence, the jury returned a $100,000 verdict in favor of Mrs. ONeill and a $25,000 verdict on her husbands claim for loss of services and consortium.