Talbot County Jury Awards Nearly $1 Million in Medical Malpractice Case

A Talbot County jury has awarded nearly $1 million to a man in a medical malpractice case involving a surgery performed at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center in Easton.

According to court records, 76-year-old Bruce Clarke was treated at the hospital in December 2022 after being taken by ambulance for abdominal pain. Imaging reportedly revealed a serious hernia, and a surgeon recommended an urgent procedure.

Following the surgery, Clarke’s condition worsened. He was later transferred to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, where doctors discovered his stomach had been perforated. Additional surgery was performed.

Clarke filed a lawsuit in 2024, alleging the surgeon failed to identify and repair the injury during the initial procedure, leading to further complications, extended hospitalization, and ongoing health issues.

On April 9, 2026, a Talbot County Circuit Court jury ruled in Clarke’s favor, awarding $970,900 in damages, including medical costs and pain and suffering.
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Attorneys for Clarke say the verdict is among the largest medical malpractice awards in the county’s history.
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In a statement, the University of Maryland Medical System said it stands by the care provided by its medical staff and believes the standard of care was met.