How Expert Radar Helped Win a $20 Million Verdict
In a high-stakes medical malpractice case that captured national attention, former Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson was awarded over $20 million by a Multnomah County jury—marking a powerful verdict in favor of patient safety, transparency, and expert-driven litigation strategy.
Gleeson’s career was abruptly derailed in 2018 after a bilateral shin surgery performed by a team doctor led to a life-altering infection. His legal team, led by Kafoury & McDougal, alleged that the procedure fell egregiously below the standard of care and turned to Expert Institute for the critical support they needed to build a winning case.
A Routine Surgery Gone Wrong
At the height of his professional soccer career, Gleeson underwent surgery for stress fractures in both legs. The procedure, intended to implant metal plates to stabilize his tibias, quickly took a disastrous turn.
“After putting him under anesthesia, the doctor realized he was missing one of the two plates,” the plaintiff’s attorney, Jason Kafoury, explained. “Instead of just waking my client up… Dr. Eden decided to send someone offsite, pick up another plate, and put it through a 15-minute sterilization instead of the normal 3 to 4 hour process.”
That decision—made while Gleeson remained under anesthesia—triggered a cascade of medical complications, including a severe infection. In the years following the procedure, Gleeson endured 14 additional surgeries, and today lives with chronic pain that has ended his athletic career and drastically diminished his quality of life.
Building a Bulletproof Case With the Right Experts
Gleeson's legal team knew the key to winning this case would lie in expert testimony—and they turned to Expert Institute for support. Through our Expert Search service, the team retained Dr. Joseph Liu, a highly credentialed orthopedic surgeon affiliated with the LA Kings, USC Football, and formerly with the Chicago Bulls.
Dr. Liu reviewed the case materials overnight and delivered powerful in-court testimony that left a lasting impression.
“He showed up with no notes at trial and completely eviscerated the defendant’s argument that this didn’t fall below the standard of care,” said Gleeson’s attorney. “This was the first time he’d ever testified in a trial—and it was this trial here.”
Dr. Liu’s testimony not only substantiated the claim of negligence but also backed the full scope of damages suffered by Gleeson.
Expert Intelligence That Turned the Tide
The defense relied on a sports agent expert, Patrick McCabe, to downplay Gleeson’s career potential and projected earnings. But Expert Radar, Expert Institute’s litigation intelligence platform, gave the plaintiff’s team a decisive edge.
Within hours, they uncovered a 2006 transcript where the same expert had testified that an 18-year-old with no professional experience could have made $10–$20 million over a career.
“We said, ‘Isn’t that funny, Mr. McCabe? Twenty years ago you said an 18-year-old who’d never played would have made $20 million, and now you’re saying Jake Gleeson had no career prospects?’ The jury ate it up.”
This revelation dramatically undercut the defense’s damages argument and reinforced the credibility of the plaintiff’s claims.
The Verdict and What It Means
After two days of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict that spoke volumes:
- $600,000 in medical costs
- Nearly $5 million in lost wages
- Over $15 million for pain and suffering
“The community has spoken,” said attorney Jason Kafoury. “What happened in that operating room was not okay.”
The Role of Expert Institute
Gleeson’s legal team credits much of their success to the caliber of experts they were able to access—and the litigation intelligence they received—through Expert Institute.
“We had an overpowering case because we found the right experts by working with the Expert Institute,” Mr. Kafoury said. “Most of our experts had never testified in court before—but they were genuine, meticulous, and deeply committed to the truth.”
Conclusion
This case is a powerful reminder of how expert testimony—when sourced and vetted with precision—can shape the outcome of a complex trial. From uncovering damaging contradictions to delivering credible, trial-ready expertise, Expert Institute helped drive a $20M victory for a client who lost everything due to a preventable error.
Looking for the right experts to support your next case? Get in touch with our team to learn how we can help you build winning strategies from discovery through verdict.
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