Gready Hunter has filed a medical negligence complaint against multiple healthcare providers and institutions, including Memorial Hermann Health System and several doctors. The complaint was filed on May 24, 2024, in the Harris County District Court by attorney Loren G. Klitsas.
The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Hunter suffered severe complications due to inadequate medical care following his admission to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital on May 24, 2022. According to the complaint, Mr. Hunter presented with shortness of breath and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation by Dr. Melissa Lancaster in the Emergency Department (ED). Despite being treated with amiodarone and undergoing cardioversion, his condition deteriorated significantly over the subsequent days.
The complaint details that Mr. Hunter's symptoms included fatigue, chills, myalgias, and cellulitis of the right knee. His condition worsened despite being seen by multiple physicians including Drs. Daniel Contreras, Bassam Zahid, Cindy Trinh, Samir Sahai, Souad Sleiman Youssef, and Nabeel Shalan. He was subjected to various treatments including broad-spectrum antibiotics without a definitive diagnosis until much later in his hospital stay.
On May 30, 2022—six days into his hospitalization—Dr. Youssef considered leptospirosis (typhus) as a potential diagnosis after learning from Mr. Hunter’s wife about rat droppings found in their attic. Empiric treatment for typhus began with doxycycline but confirmation of murine typhus came only on June 8, 2022.
Mr. Hunter’s prolonged hospital course included complications such as acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, continuous venovenous dialysis for kidney failure, and vasopressor support for hemodynamic instability. He also developed severe sepsis with septic shock and multiple organ failures which led to additional diagnoses including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), although this was never confirmed.
The plaintiff asserts that the defendants failed to adequately observe, diagnose, and treat him promptly which led to unnecessary suffering and prolonged illness. Specific allegations include inadequate history-taking and delayed empiric management of typhus which were significant breaches of standard care according to Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §74.001 et seq.
Mr. Hunter is seeking damages between $1 million and $5 million for physical pain and suffering both past and future; mental anguish; physical impairment; disfigurement; medical expenses; loss of earning capacity; along with prejudgment interest and post-judgment interest as allowed by law.
The case is presided over by Judge Bernita Barrett under Case ID: 2024-33038 in the Harris County District Court's 270th Judicial District.