In a dramatic legal turn of events, a Palm Beach County couple has filed a lawsuit against a prominent orthopedic surgeon and his associated medical practice, alleging severe medical negligence. On November 10, 2025, Brett O’Hara and Mary O’Hara lodged their complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, targeting Dr. Stephen Quinnan and Tenet Florida Physician Services II, L.L.C., operating as Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute.
The plaintiffs’ case stems from an alleged series of medical oversights that began when Brett O’Hara sought treatment for orthopedic issues at the Paley Institute in October 2022. According to the complaint, Brett O’Hara had been living with bilateral below-knee amputations for over four decades and had experienced persistent infections since 2020. The suit claims that Dr. Quinnan failed to conduct necessary diagnostic tests to rule out ongoing osteomyelitis despite clear signs of infection. “Despite the underlying concern for osteomyelitis,” the complaint states, “no laboratory or radiology studies… were considered or performed.”
The narrative takes a grave turn as it details how Brett O’Hara underwent multiple surgical procedures under Dr. Quinnan’s care without being adequately informed of the risks involved. The complaint alleges that these surgeries exacerbated his condition, leading to catastrophic outcomes including an above-knee amputation and the discovery of squamous cell carcinoma at a chronic wound site. It is claimed that this cancer was not identified until much later than it should have been.
Brett O’Hara accuses Dr. Quinnan of negligence by failing to perform timely diagnostic tests and by not addressing ongoing concerns before proceeding with complex surgeries such as limb lengthening procedures. Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts that Dr. Quinnan did not obtain informed consent from Brett regarding these procedures’ inherent risks compared to alternative treatments.
Mary O’Hara joins her husband in seeking justice through this lawsuit by claiming loss of consortium due to her husband’s debilitating injuries and ongoing health challenges resulting from what they allege was substandard medical care.
The plaintiffs are demanding compensatory damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of interest and costs for both personal injury and loss of consortium claims against both defendants—Dr. Stephen Quinnan personally and vicariously through Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute.
Representing Brett and Mary O’Hara are attorneys Daniel Harwin and Melissa Gunion from Freedland Harwin Valori Gander Spillis PLLC based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The case is presided over by Judge Michael A. Caruso under Case ID: 502025CA011755XXXAMB Div: AA.
Source: 502025CA011755XXXAMB_Brett_Ohara_v_Stephen_Quinnan_Complaint_Palm_Beach_County_Floridapdf.pdf
