Florida Medical Malpractice Verdict: $6.4 Million for Man Who Lost His Leg After a Foot Infection

A Charlotte County jury awarded $6.4 million to Robert Jarvis in a Florida medical malpractice verdict after he underwent a below-knee amputation following treatment for a chronic foot infection. The jury reached its decision on May 29, 2026, in the Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, finding that two podiatrists failed to timely recognize and treat a progressing infection that included MRSA. Jarvis was represented by Jonathan Gdanski, Brittany Barron, and Bryan Hofeld of Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A.

Case at a Glance

• Verdict: $6.4 million
• Case Type: Medical Malpractice (Podiatric)
• Court: Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Charlotte County, Florida
• Verdict Date: May 29, 2026
• Plaintiff: Robert Jarvis
• Defendant: Two podiatrists
• Plaintiff Attorneys: Jonathan Gdanski, Brittany Barron, Bryan Hofeld (Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A.)

What Did the Jury Award?

The Charlotte County jury returned a total award of approximately $6.4 million, broken down across past and future losses. The verdict included $82,006.01 for past medical expenses and $345,000 for future medical expenses.

The largest portions covered the human cost of the injury. The jury awarded $3.5 million for past pain and suffering and $2.5 million for future pain and suffering, reflecting the permanent nature of losing a leg below the knee.

How a Foot Infection Led to an Amputation

Robert Jarvis sought treatment for a chronic foot wound and a possible bone infection. According to evidence presented at trial, the condition required timely diagnosis and aggressive management to keep it from spreading.

The lawsuit alleged that a progressing infection, including MRSA, was not recognized and addressed in time. MRSA is a drug-resistant staph bacterium that can move quickly through tissue and bone when left unchecked. As the infection advanced, Jarvis's condition deteriorated to the point that surgeons performed a below-knee amputation.

The jury found that the two podiatrists who treated Jarvis were negligent and that their care was a legal cause of his injuries. In Florida medical malpractice cases, plaintiffs must prove that a provider deviated from the accepted standard of care and that the deviation directly caused harm.

Why This Verdict Matters for Patients

Delayed treatment of infection is one of the more preventable paths to a serious outcome. Chronic foot wounds, common in patients with diabetes and circulation problems, can be managed when providers monitor them closely and escalate care at the first sign of spreading infection.

This Florida medical malpractice verdict underscores what juries are willing to award when an avoidable infection ends in the loss of a limb. The bulk of the $6.4 million reflected pain and suffering rather than medical bills, a signal that jurors weighed the lifelong impact of the amputation heavily. The result joins a growing record of Florida personal injury verdicts tied to preventable medical harm.

Who Represented the Plaintiff?

Jarvis was represented by Jonathan Gdanski, Brittany Barron, and Bryan Hofeld of Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A., a Florida plaintiff firm that handles medical malpractice and catastrophic injury cases.

"The jury carefully reviewed the evidence and returned a verdict that reflects the devastating and permanent impact this injury has had on his life," said Jonathan Gdanski following the verdict.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured by a missed or delayed diagnosis, verdicts like this one show what juries are willing to award when the evidence is strong and the attorney is prepared. Find a plaintiff lawyer on Major Verdict who has the trial record to back it up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is podiatric medical malpractice?

Podiatric medical malpractice occurs when a foot-and-ankle specialist provides care that falls below the accepted medical standard and injures the patient. Common examples include misdiagnosed infections, surgical errors, and failure to escalate treatment for a worsening wound. As in any malpractice case, the patient must prove both a deviation from the standard of care and that the deviation caused the harm.

Q: Why does a delayed MRSA diagnosis matter so much?

MRSA is a staph infection resistant to many common antibiotics, so it can spread through tissue and bone faster than providers expect. When a MRSA infection is caught early, it can often be controlled with the right antibiotics and wound care. When it is missed or undertreated, it can progress to the point that amputation becomes the only option to stop it.

Q: How are pain and suffering damages calculated in Florida?

Florida juries assign a dollar value to non-economic damages such as physical pain, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life, separate from measurable costs like medical bills. There is no fixed formula, so jurors weigh the severity and permanence of the injury. In this case, the jury awarded $6 million in combined past and future pain and suffering, far more than the medical expenses.