A former Premier League footballer has lost a High Court damages claim against an experienced knee specialist over an alleged "surgical error". Former Cardiff City defender Roger Johnson brought a clinical negligence claim against Andrew Williams, accusing the surgeon of causing a "large defect" during an operation on his left knee in March 2017.
Now pursuing a career in coaching, Johnson claimed that following the procedure he suffered continued swelling and pain and did not fully recover. He alleged that Williams - a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who has worked with Premier League football clubs and Premiership rugby teams - was "negligent" by damaging his medial retinaculum, a protective fibrous capsule in the knee.
However, in a ruling published on Tuesday, Judge Jeremy Hyam QC said there was not enough evidence to conclude that the defect in Johnson's knee was caused by the surgeon. The judge said: "In summary, the evidence adduced by the claimant and his expert has not been sufficiently cogent or compelling to allow me to conclude on the balance of probabilities that the defendant caused a 3cm diameter defect to the claimant's medial retinaculum on 17 March 2017 in the course of the synovectomy procedure."
