$7.65 Million Jury Verdict in Florida Medical Malpractice Case After Leg Amputation

$7.65 Million Jury Verdict in Florida Medical Malpractice Case After Leg Amputation

Introduction

Jury Awards $7.65 Million to Rebecca Knowles

On September 18, 2026, a Florida state court jury awarded Rebecca Knowles $7,652,848.18 in a medical malpractice case arising from the treatment of a dislocated left knee and an associated arterial blockage. The case, Knowles v. Ensley, D.O., et al., Case No. 2024CA006215, was tried in Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit at the Lee County Justice Center before Judge Keith Kyle. Courtroom View Network identified the proceeding as a medical malpractice case involving Knowles’ claim that the defendants’ treatment of her leg injury resulted in an amputation. The jury ultimately returned a verdict for the plaintiff after deliberating for approximately four hours.

Fall and Dislocated Knee Led to Vascular Complication

The case arose from a December 2022 fall at Knowles’ home that resulted in a dislocated left knee. According to the trial reporting, the injury also caused a blockage of the popliteal artery, affecting blood flow to the lower portion of her leg. Knowles, who was 55 at the time, was taken to the emergency department at Cape Coral Hospital, where she was treated by emergency physician Dr. Tyler Ensley and physician assistant Alexandria Erickson. The subsequent litigation focused on the medical care provided during the emergency-department treatment and whether the vascular injury was addressed quickly enough to prevent the eventual loss of part of her leg.

Plaintiff Alleged Delayed Treatment of Arterial Blockage

Knowles alleged that Ensley and Erickson failed to timely diagnose and treat the arterial blockage following her knee dislocation. According to the plaintiff’s trial position, imaging revealed the blockage, but appropriate vascular intervention was not arranged quickly enough. Her attorney argued that the providers should have taken additional steps to obtain vascular surgical assistance and restore blood flow while the leg remained at risk. The plaintiff’s case therefore centered on whether the treatment provided in the emergency department met the applicable standard of care under the circumstances.

The plaintiff’s attorney also pointed to physical evidence concerning the condition of Knowles’ leg while she was in the emergency department. During closing arguments, counsel referenced a photograph taken by Knowles’ friend that showed discoloration of the injured leg. The plaintiff argued that the discoloration was a sign of compromised circulation and that the medical records did not adequately document or address that condition. Counsel further argued that merely ordering diagnostic imaging was insufficient when the imaging showed an arterial blockage requiring further medical action.

Defense Disputed the Medical Negligence Allegations

The defendants disputed the plaintiff’s allegations and maintained that the medical care provided in the emergency department was appropriate. Defense attorney Louis La Cava argued that the evidence showed Erickson appropriately ordered computed tomography angiography, commonly known as CTA, after the initial evaluation. The imaging was intended to determine whether Knowles had sustained an arterial blockage associated with the knee injury.

The defense also emphasized that Ensley attempted to reduce or realign the dislocated knee and that the CTA results were communicated to the medical personnel involved in Knowles’ care. According to CVN’s trial report, La Cava argued that the providers followed appropriate procedures in evaluating and treating Knowles during the approximately four-and-a-half hours she remained in the emergency department. The defense position was that the providers’ actions did not fall below the applicable standard of care.

Subsequent Treatment and Amputation

Following her emergency-department treatment, Knowles was admitted and subsequently transferred to another facility. According to the trial report, a vascular repair procedure was not performed until the following evening. Despite efforts to address the vascular injury, Knowles ultimately underwent a below-the-knee amputation in January 2023. The plaintiff contended that the delay in addressing the arterial blockage was responsible for the loss of her leg.

The amputation became a central component of the damages presented to the jury. The plaintiff’s counsel argued that the consequences extended beyond the original traumatic knee injury because the loss of part of the leg created significant long-term physical consequences. During closing arguments, the plaintiff’s attorney requested approximately $12 million in damages. After considering the evidence and arguments presented during the trial, the jury awarded $7,652,848.18.

Jury Finds in Favor of Knowles

After approximately four hours of deliberation, the jury found Dr. Tyler Ensley and physician assistant Alexandria Erickson responsible for the injuries associated with Knowles’ amputation, according to CVN’s post-verdict reporting. The verdict resolved the central dispute over whether the medical treatment provided following the dislocated knee and arterial blockage met the required standard of care. The resulting award totaled $7,652,848.18 in favor of Knowles.

The precise verdict amount is recorded by CVN as $7,652,848.18, while its case database displays the amount rounded to $7,652,848. The proceeding was identified under Case No. 2024CA006215 in the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida, with the Lee County Justice Center listed as the court location.

Medical Malpractice Issues Presented at Trial

The trial involved competing evidence concerning the appropriate response to a dislocated knee accompanied by an arterial blockage. Knowles’ position was that the vascular injury required more immediate intervention and that the delay contributed to the eventual amputation. The defense maintained that the providers appropriately evaluated the injury, ordered diagnostic testing, attempted to address the knee dislocation, and communicated the imaging results to the medical professionals involved in her treatment.

The case was tried over the week of September 15 through September 18, 2026, with the jury reaching its verdict on September 18. CVN’s case record classifies the proceeding as a health-care medical malpractice action and records the plaintiff’s $7,652,848.18 verdict. The reported outcome makes the Knowles case a significant September 2026 Florida medical malpractice jury verdict involving an alleged delay in treatment following a traumatic knee injury and resulting leg amputation.