$13.8 Million Verdict in Clayton County Med Mal Trial*

A Clayton County medical malpractice trial has brought renewed attention to wrongful death cases in Georgia, at a time when the Georgia Supreme Court is weighing whether to limit the damages families can recover after losing a loved one.

The case centered on the preventable death of Terion Walker, a 59-year-old woman who died as a result of medical failures following orthopedic surgery. Beasley Allen attorneys Rob Register and Larry Golston represented Walker’s family throughout the trial, securing a $13.8 million verdict.

From Car Crash to Surgery

On November 28, 2022, Terion Walker was rushed by ambulance to Piedmont Henry Hospital after a serious motor vehicle collision. The crash left her with multiple traumatic injuries, including fractures to her left ankle and left hand.

Two days later, on November 30, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Ghattas of AtlantaOrtho LLC performed surgery to repair Walker’s ankle and placed her hand in a fiberglass splint. While the surgery addressed the fractures, evidence presented at trial showed Walker faced a significant risk of developing blood clots after surgery.

A Known Risk and a Fatal Outcome

Medical records showed that Ms. Walker’s doctors knew about her high risk of developing dangerous blood clots after surgery and planned to discharge her on blood thinners for 6 weeks or until she was able to walk safely with a walker. She received blood thinners during her hospital stay, and treatment notes referenced continued deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prevention. However, Ms. Walker was discharged on December 5, 2022, without any prescription for blood thinners.

At a follow-up visit one week later, she remained wheelchairbound and was clearly unable to move safely with a walker. On January 2, 2023, Walker returned to the hospital by ambulance with shortness of breath and leg pain and was diagnosed with DVT and bilateral pulmonary emboli. She died four days later.

Her family later filed a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit, alleging that failures to properly assess Ms. Walker and prescribe blood thinner medication for her known clotting risks led to her death.

Why This Case Matters

This case was tried under Georgia’s newer trial rules, which separate fault and damages and can make wrongful death cases more complicated for families seeking justice. It also unfolded as the Georgia Supreme Court considers changes that could limit what families are allowed to recover after losing a loved one.

For Terion Walker’s family, the case was about accountability—not legal technicalities. It shows how changes in the law directly affect real people facing unimaginable loss. Beasley Allen remains committed to standing up for families harmed by medical negligence and holding healthcare providers accountable, even as Georgia’s legal landscape continues to change.

*The amount of some verdicts may have been reduced by post-trial settlement, appeal, or remittitur. Some amounts may have been obtained by default judgment. Some verdicts and settlements were obtained in other states besides Alabama. Beasley Allen does not represent that the same or similar results would be obtained in all cases