Texas appeals court trims $1 million award in doctors' assault lawsuit
The Texas Court of Appeals reduced a jury verdict that had granted Dr. Sadaf Saghier roughly $1 million after she won a malicious-prosecution and emotional-distress case against Dr. Sunbal Zafar.
In April 2022, Dr. Sunbal Zafar claimed Dr. Sadaf Saghier hit her in the face at their medical office, leading to a police arrest that was subsequently reduced and dismissed. Following the criminal case, Zafar sued Saghier for assault, while Saghier filed a counterclaim for malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A jury initially granted Saghier $1 million, including compensatory and exemplary damages.
On appeal, Justices Wade Birdwell, Mike Wallach and Brian Walker concluded that the evidence did not support the $15,095 attorney-fee award nor the $255,004 future mental-anguish award, and they applied the statutory cap to exemplary damages. After these adjustments, the court affirmed the remaining awards, resulting in a total judgment of just under $550,000. The decision underscores the evidentiary standards required for damages in professional-malpractice-related civil suits.
Why it matters
The ruling clarifies limits on civil damages for alleged professional misconduct in Texas.
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