PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — A Palm Beach County man has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging an unnecessary and improperly planned limb-lengthening surgery caused permanent, catastrophic injuries. The case, Peter Kojalo v. Stephen Matthew Quinnan, M.D., and Tenet Florida Physician Services II, LLC d/b/a Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute, was filed in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 25, 2025 (Case No. 502025CA012313XXXAMB).
The complaint, brought by plaintiff Peter Kojalo, names orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Matthew Quinnan and his employer, Tenet Florida Physician Services II, LLC, which operates as the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute, as defendants. Kojalo is represented by the Fort Lauderdale-based firm Freedland Harwin Valori Gander Spillis, PLLC.
According to the filing, Kojalo, then 53, sought orthopedic care from Dr. Quinnan at the Paley Institute for right ankle pain. The complaint states that Quinnan ultimately recommended a limb-lengthening surgical procedure, which he performed on October 28, 2022. The procedure included multiple components: an open treatment of a right distal tibia fracture malunion with lag screw fixation, osteotomies of the tibia and fibula, tibial lengthening, temporary arthrodesis of the proximal tibiofibular joint, and placement of a prophylactic intramedullary nail.
Kojalo alleges the surgery should never have been recommended. The complaint claims Quinnan did not perform necessary pre-surgical studies — including a CT Scanogram — to determine whether a leg length discrepancy existed. It also states that Quinnan failed to document the planned amount of lengthening and did not suggest conservative treatment options before recommending surgery.
The lawsuit further alleges that Quinnan did not adequately explain the risks associated with what the filing describes as an “invasive and complex limb lengthening procedure.” The complaint includes a separate count asserting lack of informed consent, claiming the plaintiff would not have agreed to the surgery had the risks and alternatives been properly discussed.
After the operation, Kojalo allegedly experienced escalating pain, difficulty walking, and the need for further medical care. The complaint states that these issues stem from the initial procedure and have resulted in permanent and severe injuries. The filing lists damages including pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, and aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
Three counts are brought against the defendants:
- Count I – Negligence against Dr. Quinnan, alleging improper performance of an unnecessary procedure and failure to meet the standard of care.
- Count II – Lack of informed consent, alleging the risks and alternatives were not fully disclosed.
- Count III – Vicarious liability, alleging the Paley Institute is responsible for Quinnan’s actions as his employer.
Kojalo demands a jury trial and seeks compensatory damages as permitted under Florida law. The lawsuit also states that the defendants allegedly failed to comply with Florida’s medical malpractice presuit requirements, including providing requested documentation during the presuit investigation.
The plaintiff’s attorneys signed the complaint on November 25, 2025. The original document, as filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court, can be viewed here.
See this explainer for a background on medical malpractice claims and how they’re typically litigated.
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