Former football star Beau Orth set to take the stand in multimillion dollar medical malpractice trial

Former football star Beau Orth, known to many Las Vegans as "Orth," is set to take the stand Friday in the multimillion dollar malpractice trial over a surgery he claims ended his playing career and caused lifelong injuries.

Attorneys representing Orth say Dr. Albert Capanna performed a wrong-level surgery on Orth's spine permanently damaging it.

"Not only did it end his football career, it's had a significant impact on his life," said attorney Dennis Prince who will ask for at least $6 million for past and future medical costs as well as pain and suffering.

"The doctor was supposed to do a micro discectomy at LS-S1, but instead did it at L4-5, causing a severe collapse of his disc," says Prince. "The defendant told Orth the surgery would be easy, simple and that he would be back playing in a few weeks. He never played again."

Beau Orth was a standout player at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas from 2005-2008 who was recruited by colleges and determined to be heading to the pros. He earned All-Conference and State honors while at Bishop Gorman and went on to earn Academic All-Conference honors at UNLV.

Orth was 21 years old when he entrusted Dr. Albert Capanna to operate on a minor football injury in September 2010.

"It ended any prospect of playing professional football which was his dream," says attorney Prince. "Orth now has the spine of a 60-year-old and will need multiple surgeries to correct the damage."

"The defendant has admitted doing a wrong level surgery on at least one other former football player at UNLV," says Prince. "It's important we make sure nothing like this happens again to any other players or patients."

SOURCE Eglet Prince