$111M awarded to SCSU student who suffered permanent leg damage after medical care

A St. Cloud State University student who was injured while playing soccer in 2017 has been awarded $111 million after claiming negligent medical care left his leg permanently damaged.

This week, a federal jury awarded Anuj Thapa $111,251,559.22 for past and future medical expenses, pain, disability, emotional distress and others.

Thapa says, in January 2017, he was taken to St. Cloud Orthopedics for a fractured leg he suffered while playing soccer. He underwent surgery but still felt “severe, difficult-to-control pain in his left lower leg,” according to his lawsuit. However, he was discharged the next day and told to come back if his symptoms worsened.

After six days, he went back because his pain was as bad as when he left and it “got to the point where he couldn’t stand the pain any longer,” the lawsuit continued. The following morning, a different physician performed surgery and found Thapa had acute compartment syndrome and the muscles in part of his leg were gray and had no contractility.

His lawsuit says he’s endured more than 20 surgeries since then but still has severe, disabling, permanent damage to his leg, which he blamed on St. Cloud Orthopedics’ failure to properly care and treat him, as well as its failure to properly inform him about the risks of discharging him instead of continuing treatment.

After a trial, a federal jury agreed with Thapa, awarding him the nine-figure sum.

However, St. Cloud Orthopedics continues to stand by its care of Thapa and said it’s “evaluating” its options. The company’s full statement is below.

“We maintain the care provided in this case was in accordance with accepted standards of care. The case was about the alleged delay in diagnosing and treating a complication of the surgery that was performed. St. Cloud Orthopedics continues to support its providers. We are evaluating our options regarding this verdict.”

St. Cloud Orthopedic Associates