Per @AdamSchefter, the LA Chargers team doctor “accidentally punctured” QB Tyrod Taylor’s lung “while trying to administer a pain-killing injection," causing him to miss a game.

THREAD: When an NFL player SUED and WON MILLIONS in a medical malpractice suit against a team doctor.

In 2000, Jaguars OL Jeff Novak filed a medical malpractice suit against Dr. Stephen Lucie, the team doctor.

Novak's lawyer argued that Lucie's treatment was malpractice, including the decision to have the procedure in an "unsterile" training room. He claimed it ended his career.

At trial, Lucie's attorney, tried to defend the allegations on the basis that his client's treatment decisions never deviated from the accepted standard of care.

Among many witnesses, Lucie had Tom Coughlin -then the Jags' head coach- testify on the damages portion of the case.

Coughlin took the stand and testified that Novak would never have been the Jaguars No. 1 center, even without an injury.

"I did not think of Jeff as a starting center... I liked his athleticism, I liked his quickness, his agility... (I) did not think he was a power player."

Jags QB Mark Brunell also testified at trial. He indicated that he believed that Novak would have played 3-5 more years if not for an inability to return from injury.

Other teammates, including Keenan McCardell, Tony Boselli, Dan Davey and John Jurkovic, testified in the case.

The jury deliberated more than 3 hours before ruling AGAINST Dr. Lucie and his employer, Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute. Novak asked the jury for $7.8M but they came back with an award of $5.3M.

In the jury's eyes, this was the price for costing him the rest of his career.

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Sources:

Slate:
https://slate.com/culture/2013/01/nfl-team-doctors-the-problem-with-pro-footballs-medical-sponsorship-deals.html

NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/21/sports/plus-pro-football-ex-jaguar-awarded-5.3-million-in-suit.html

Jacksonville: https://www.news4jax.com/news/2002/07/10/brunell-novak-could-have-played-3-5-more-years/

https://www.news4jax.com/news/2002/07/18/testimony-ends-in-novak-case/

https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-87091067/the-nfl-s-medical-care-faces-scrutiny-malpractice