$1 Million Verdict Issued in Stephens Co. Civil Trial

A Stephens County jury awards a $1 million verdict in a civil trial.

The jury handed down the verdict last week in Stephens County Superior Court in the case of Wilbert “Bobby” Williams vs. Robert Buchanan, M.D.

Williams had sued Dr. Buchanan for medical malpractice.

According to information from the court, Dr. Buchanan had performed a medical procedure in the area of Williams’ eye.

However, that procedure resulted in irreparable and permanent damage to Williams’ eye.

Williams’ attorney, Jim Cornwell, said it is a big verdict but is deserved in his opinion given Williams’ current life situation.

“I thought the verdict was very appropriate given the injuries to Mr. Williams, which were serious, permanent and disabling,” said Cornwell. “The man can’t close his left eye, blink.”

Cornwell went on to say that Williams must now tape his eye shut in order to go to sleep and has constant tearing in one eye.

Dr. Buchanan formerly practiced surgery in Toccoa, but now lives and works out of state.

Legal observers believe this to be one of the largest or one of the largest non-death-related verdicts in the Mountain Judicial Circuit.

The case was heard by Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Russell W. “Rusty” Smith.