Mayo Clinic hit with $20M verdict after patient sues for negligence
A woman in Iowa has been awarded $19.8 million in a judgment against Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic and one of its surgeons. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs announced the verdict last week, shortly after a jury rendered its decision.
According to the law firm Hixson & Brown—representing Linette Nelson—their client was set to undergo three surgeries for the treatment of colorectal cancer, with the second such procedure taking place in June 2018.
It was then that the problem began, with Nelson arguing she was left permanently disfigured and in chronic pain as a result of the negligence of the former Mayo Clinic surgeon, Amy Lightner, MD.
Lightner was supposed to remove all of Nelson’s rectum but “botched [the] multistage operation” and “left 5 to 7 centimeters of diseased rectum inside her body,” attorneys for the plaintiff said.
While mistakes happen, the lawyers go on to argue that Lightner overlooked a CT scan that showed part of Nelson’s rectum remained intact, opting to go ahead with the third surgery anyway.
Shortly after, the plaintiffs alleged that Lightner and Mayo Clinic parted ways for unknown reasons. It was then that Nelson was assigned a new surgeon, David Larson, MD. He determined that all the surgeries would need to be redone—adding more than a year to the woman’s recovery time.
As a result of the experience being treated at Mayo Clinic, prolonged by the error from Lightner, Nelson was left with “permanent disfigurement, pelvic floor disorder, fibromyalgia, PTSD, and lifelong chronic pain,” her attorneys stated.
After a trial in a Minnesota court, a jury ultimately agreed that Nelson was the victim of medical malpractice and negligence, with Lightner and the nonprofit Mayo Clinic being liable for damages.
The total award includes compensation for pain and suffering Nelson endured, along with future distress.
“The jury’s verdict speaks truth and justice,” LaMar Jost, an attorney with Hixson & Brown, added. “World-class reputations don’t excuse life-altering medical negligence.”
In a statement to multiple media outlets, Mayo Clinic did not comment on the specifics of the case, but expressed disapproval for the verdict.
“Mayo Clinic respects the jury's time and the judicial process but is disappointed in the verdict. The organization will evaluate next steps while remaining steadfast in its commitment to providing the highest standards of care and patient outcomes,” the health system wrote in a statement quoted by KCCI News.
Mayo Clinic is repeatedly ranked as one of the best healthcare organizations in the country. In 2025, they were included on U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Honor Roll,” recognizing the 20 organizations in the U.S. that provide exceptional care.
HealthExec reached out to Mayo Clinic to see if it has additional comments.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.