Augusta, GA
Georgia jury awards Aiken couple $3.5 million in lawsuit against Augusta hospital
A Richmond County jury awarded an Aiken man and his wife more than $3 million from a lawsuit that alleged an outpatient procedure at then-Trinity Hospital in Augusta left the man injured.
Augusta Hospital LLC, the legal entity over Trinity at the time of the procedure, will pay Willie Wright $3.2 million and his wife, Glory Wright, $308,000, according to the verdict sheet from the Wednesday, Dec. 20, decision.
“We are grateful that Willie and Glory Wright have finally achieved justice. It’s been a long time coming,” attorneys Ken and Caleb Connor, who represented the Wrights, said in a media release.
The verdict came more than five years after the case was filed. Caleb Connor said the case was part of the backlog caused by COVID-related court delays.
Trinity Hospital, which has changed hands and names at least twice since the procedure, is now the Piedmont Augusta Hospital Summerville Campus of Georgia-based Piedmont Healthcare. The hospital did not immediately respond to phone and email messages requesting comment.
On Nov. 3, 2016, Wright had a procedure to insert a filter meant to trap blood clots two weeks ahead of a scheduled gastric bypass.
“It was supposed to be a simple procedure in and out, 30 minutes,” Caleb Connor said.
The Wrights alleged that the hospital used the wrong equipment during a procedure, which kept the doctor from adequately seeing where he was operating. They also alleged the hospital violated the manufacturer’s operating instructions and warning for the machine used in an attempt to remove the filter, which resulted in the machine’s failure.
“The defense attempted to blame everybody,” Caleb Connor said. “The surgeon, the machine itself, the patient, they wanted to blame everybody and not acknowledge it was their machine, it broke and we contend they had responsibility for that.”
The filter was removed on the third attempt, which came after an overnight stay in an intensive care unit. After the filter was removed, Wright’s attorneys said he had a more than two-month hospital stay and $650,000 in medical bills — more than $440,00 of that tally coming from Trinity Hospital, and he’s still dealing with long-term health problems from the procedure.
It is with deep and profound sympathy that we announce the transition of Apostle William J. Harris, Jr. who entered into rest June 22, 2024.
Apostle Harris, a native of Richmond County, was a member of St. Peter Fellowship and Praise Tabernacle Deliverance. He served as Assistant Pastor and Systems Manager of Operator under Chief Apostle Cristine Brinson.
Survivors include his wife, Apostle Cristine Brinson; three children, Timothy Harris, LaDora Harris and John (Tiffany) Harris, Sr. all of Augusta, GA; a bonus son, Barry Cadillac (Madelyn) Smith of Hinesville, GA; adopted daughter, Miracle K. Harris of Aiken, SC; grandchildren, Patrice Graham, John Harris, Jr., Jasmine Harris, Ariana Harris, Jordan Harris and Ja’liya Ann Harris all of Augusta, GA, Jaden Smith and Jordan Smith of Hinesville, GA; God Child, Shakia Cooper; sister, Alesia Parsons of North Carolina; sisters-in-law, Doris A. Walker of Grovetown, GA and Audrey Bell of Augusta, GA; brothers-in-law, Robert Brinson, Jr. of Atlanta, GA and Richard Brinson of Columbia, SC; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and sorrowing friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Saturday, July 6, 2024 at Transforming Lives Bible Church with the Rev. James C. Kendrick officiating. Viewing will be held from 2 pm to 5:30 pm Friday, July 5, 2024 at the funeral home.
Professional Services are under the care of G. L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary-North Augusta.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Apostle William J. Harris, Jr., please visit our floral store.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Another shooting downtown left one person dead early Friday morning, 20 days after the shooting that shocked the community, according to the Richmond County Coroner’s Office.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to the 1500 block of 15th Street about an injured person at 7:43 a.m.
Deputies say when they arrived they found a man in the parking lot of a business and had been shot at least one time, Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen confirms.
DOWNTOWN SHOOTING: TEAM COVERAGE
The man was pronounced dead on the scene at 8 a.m., according to Bowen, and an autopsy has been scheduled.
No further information is available at this time, and his identity will be released once the next of kin has been notified, Bowen says.
The investigation is in its early stages and there is no further information at this time, according to the sheriff’s office.
Just two days ago, downtown business owners were celebrating their business boom since the shooting on 10th Street.
Just a few weeks after downtown was shattered by the shooting, the garden city is rebounding with Juneteenth and Pride — all of which are having a positive impact on business.
And with temperatures shooting up, there’s been a concern business would wilt in the hot weather.
“Of course, the weather is not helping with it being so incredibly hot,” said Hope Trujillo, manager at Pineapple Ink.
On Tuesday, June 11, two suspects who are also brothers, were arrested in connection with the shooting.
Amazing Lee Blessed Brigham, 19, was arrested Tuesday after being released from the hospital, where he’d been since shortly after.
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Augusta, GA – Entered into rest on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Mrs. Jennifer L. Fuzy, 38, wife of Matt Fuzy; children: Brayden and Gatlin Fuzy; mother: Alisa M. Jordan (Tony); and brother: Mike Quick (Lila).
Jennifer was a lifelong resident of the Augusta area. She was a 2003 graduate of Evans High School. She earned her master’s in early childhood education from Augusta State University. Following graduation she taught at Rollins Elementary School. She was co-owner of Top Dog Pawn Shop. Jennifer was a loving and devoted mother.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 30, 2024, from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors.
Memorial contributions may be made to Jennifer’s children’s education fund.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com.
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