Belleville foot doctor named in St. Clair County med mal case

A St. Clair County woman is suing a Belleville foot doctor for allegedly misdiagnosing an injury.

Michelle Hicks filed a lawsuit Nov. 15 against Dr. James D. Taylor in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Hicks says she went to see Dr. Taylor in September 2010 for pain in her foot. She says the podiatrist diagnosed her as having broken a bone, the 2nd metatarsal, in the middle of her right foot. Hicks claims she sought a second opinion from Dr. James Olroyd in November 2010. The patient alleges Dr. Olroyd told her the pain wasn't from a broken foot but was instead being caused by a mass located in that area. Hicks says the mass was surgically removed in January 2011.

Dr. Taylor is accused of negligence for allegedly failing to properly diagnose Hicks's foot injury. Hicks asks for more than $50,000 in damages for medical expenses and court costs.

Attorney Terry N. Brown of Belleville represents her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-619