Jury finds former cardiologist did needless heart surgery

A Maryland jury has found that a former cardiologist performed needless heart surgery on a Baltimore businessman, giving him three stents. Jurors, after more than two days of deliberations, ruled Wednesday against Dr. Mark Midei and Catholic Health Initiatives, the former owner of St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Md., The Baltimore Sun reported. In the second phase of the trial, the jury must decide how much they should pay in damages to Glenn Weinberg. Midei has been the target of many lawsuits alleging he performed unnecessary surgery to increase his income. Many of them were settled after one large court proceeding, the Sun said. Weinberg, a partner in Cordish Cos., a Baltimore real estate and development enterprise, said the surgery cost him at least $50 million in lost income. He charged Midei told him, incorrectly, he had serious heart disease and needed the surgery. Weinberg is seeking $150 million in damages from both defendants.