A judge’s ruling has forced North Broward Hospital District to settle a malpractice lawsuit filed by the estate of Robert P. Kelley, a former district administrator for Florida's former Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
The case, brought by the civic leader’s son Robert W. Kelley, dragged on for five years in part because the district “provided intentionally misleading testimony,” according to Circuit Judge Carlos Rodriguez. The elder Kelley was treated for knee surgery at Broward General Medical Center in November 2008, but was never given blood thinners to prevent clotting, the suit said. He died of a pulmonary embolism at age 77 five days after surgery.