An $11 million jury award in favor of Stephen Courtney, MD, was reversed, opening up the possibility of a new trial, The Dallas Morning News reported July 15.
In 2021, Jonathan Rute was ordered to help pay nearly $11 million to Dr. Courtney after a jury found Mr. Rute gave information to help a local TV station air stories in 2017 comparing the surgeon to Christopher Duntsch, MD, also known as "Dr. Death."
At the time, Dr. Courtney alleged the news reports cost him about $10 million in damages and that he lost 208 procedures between May 2017 through 2020. Dr. Courtney won the trial against a former clinical partner and a medical malpractice lawyer, and a state medical board found Dr. Courtney didn't harm his patients.
Now in a July 5 ruling, Dallas' Fifth Court of Appeals overturned the verdict, The Dallas Morning News said.
Mr. Rute and Dr. Courtney did not respond to a request for comment from The Dallas Morning News. Mr. Rute's attorney told the publication that the ruling will allow him to file new litigation against Dr. Courtney and his lawyers over malicious prosecution allegations, seeking more than $5 million in damages.