Doctor caused hearing loss, man claims

A Port Neches man claims he has suffered nearly complete hearing loss in his left ear after a doctor ruptured his eardrum when he was a small child. 

Dustin Scott Lasiter Kendrick filed a lawsuit Sept. 21 in Jefferson County District Court against Dr. William Jerome Reed.

In his complaint, Kendrick alleges Reed treated him in 1996 when he was 3 years old. During a routine check-up, Reed checked Kendrick’s ears and removed wax buildup from his right ear, according to the complaint. Reed then proceeded to check Kendrick’s left ear and attempted to remove ear wax with a long, white instrument, the suit states.

“Dustin immediately began to scream and cry, and Reed stated that the ‘tube’ had not fallen out, and he had accidentally dislodged it,” the complaint says. “The ear was bleeding profusely and despite Dr. Reed’s assurances that all was well, Dustin suffered recurrent infections and pain, over the next two years, until he was finally referred to a specialist by Reed in 1998, who diagnosed the torn eardrum and referred Dustin to another specialist for surgery.”

Although Kendrick underwent two surgeries, one in 1999 and another in 2005, he claims he has suffered from 90 percent hearing loss in his left ear and 30 percent in his right ear.

Kendrick blames Reed for contributing to his hearing loss, saying the doctor negligently failed to properly remove the ear wax and failed to properly diagnose and treat the ruptured ear drum.

In addition to his hearing loss, Kendrick claims he incurred medical costs; experienced physical pain, suffering, mental anguish, physical pain and physical impairment; and lost earnings because of Reed’s treatment.

In his complaint, Kendrick seeks a judgment in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of Jefferson County District Court, plus pre-judgment interest at the maximum rate allowed by law, post-judgment interest at the legal rate, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Andrew P. Gertz and Ryan W. Gertz of Gertz Adair Law Firm in Beaumont will be representing him.

Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court, has been assigned to the case.

Case No. A193-201