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Jury awards Gary native $1.5M in malpractice case JURY AWARD: Ex-steelworker lost stomach following surgery; doctor still works at local hospitals BY RUTHANN ROBINSON rrobinson@nwitimes.com 219.662.5331 This story ran on nwitimes.com on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 12:43 AM CST ADVERTISEMENT CROWN POINT | A former worker for U.S. Steel won a $1.5 million malpractice case against a local surgeon Monday in Lake County court, attorneys in the case said. Michael Castro, 54, was born and raised in Gary and was a steelworker until he had surgery Feb. 25, 2000, to repair problems with gastroesophageal reflux, said his attorney, Harold Harper, of Valparaiso. The jury determined that because of malpractice by his surgeon, Dr. Teoman Demir, Castro was hospitalized for two months and lost his entire stomach, Harper said. "As a result, he is considered a permanent gastric cripple," Harper said. Demir performed the surgery at The Community Hospital in Munster and worked at the Hammond Clinic. Demir continues to perform surgery and remains on staff at Community Hospital as well as St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers and St. Catherine Hospital, said the defendant's attorney, Jon Schmoll, of Merrillville. "The undisputed medical evidence in this case showed significant complications following surgery -- not as a result of any malpractice on the part of Dr. Demir," Schmoll argued. He said the medical review declared Demir didn't commit malpractice, but the review's ruling isn't binding. Castro's judgment will be reduced to $1.25 million because the Indiana Legislature capped any judgments after July 1, 1999, to that amount, Harper said. "The Legislature should defer to the judgment of the jury," Harper said. "They listened to the case, and it shouldn't be taken out of their hands." Castro, who now lives in Atlanta, would rather have his health than the money, Harper said. "If he had a choice between the judgment and turning back the clock, he'd turn back the clock, I guarantee you," Harper said. Lake Superior Court Judge Lorenzo Arredondo heard the case.