A Springfield woman who claimed her doctor permanently injured her after he fell on her during a drunken stumble has been awarded $6 million.
Elizabeth Nelligan, 24, sued Dr. Mark Radzicki in 2005, claiming that during a social visit to his house, Radzicki broke her foot after he knocked her over while he was intoxicated. A jury in Hampden Superior Court in Springfield awarded Nelligan $5 million. An additional $1 million in interest was awarded by the court.
Radzicki was Nelligan’s primary care physician when she and her mother went to his house for dinner in January 2005. Nelligan’s mother was dating Radzicki at the time.
In her negligence lawsuit, Nelligan said Radzicki became intoxicated, then staggered, stepped onto her right foot, lost his balance and fell on her. Nelligan said she was knocked to the floor, with her foot underneath her.
Her attorney, Charlotte E. Glinka of Taunton, said Nelligan, who was a college student when she was injured, has suffered nearly constant pain since and was forced to drop out of school for two years to manage her discomfort. She said Nelligan, who returned to college last fall, abandoned plans to go to medical school because she believes her pain would make it impossible for her to handle the demands of being a doctor.
During the trial, Radzicki denied Nelligan’s claim that he was drunk.
