Mark W. Johnson has filed a lawsuit alleging medical malpractice against a prominent healthcare provider and two of its physicians, accusing them of negligence that led to significant harm. The complaint was filed on October 22, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, against Stanford Health Care and doctors Stanley Liu and Thomaz Fleury Curado.
The case revolves around Johnson's battle with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which led him to seek treatment from Dr. Liu at Stanford Health Care in 2018. After an extensive evaluation, Dr. Liu recommended maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery as a solution to Johnson's condition. This complex procedure involves repositioning the upper and lower jaws to improve airway function but comes with a challenging recovery process. Johnson underwent this surgery on May 24, 2022, performed by Drs. Liu and Curado at Stanford’s Ambulatory Surgery Center.
Despite numerous follow-up visits over the next year, it wasn't until July 27, 2023, that Johnson discovered during an orthodontist appointment that his jaw had been incorrectly realigned during the surgery. This revelation came as a shock since he had not been informed of any issues by the defendants throughout his postoperative care. Attempts to reach Dr. Liu were futile as he had left Stanford Health Care by then.
Johnson's current medical team confirmed the improper alignment and advised that corrective surgery would be necessary—a complete redo of the MMA procedure—to rectify the initial surgical errors. This situation has caused Johnson immense pain and suffering, requiring further medical intervention and leading to additional financial burdens due to lost wages and ongoing treatment costs.
In his complaint, Johnson accuses Stanford Health Care and its associated physicians of negligence in performing substandard surgical care resulting in his injuries. He claims they failed in their duty to provide competent medical services with the expected skill level within their professional community. Furthermore, he alleges that all involved parties acted within their roles as agents or employees under Stanford Health Care’s authority.
Johnson seeks various forms of relief from the court: general damages exceeding jurisdictional limits; compensation for medical expenses incurred due to negligent treatment; reimbursement for lost income and diminished earning capacity; pre-judgment interest; legal costs; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Mark W. Johnson is attorney Adam C. Trigg from Bergeson LLP. The case is presided over by Judge M. Suarez under Case No. 24CV450083.