In January 2006, a bypass surgery was performed on Michael Derrick's left leg at the Regional Hospital of Jackson, Tennessee. In March 2006, Derrick said he went back to the doctor to report that he was experiencing fevers and chills. His doctor told him he had the flu. About a week later, Derrick went to another hospital in Nashville in severe pain. There they informed him he had to have emergency surgery on his left foot. Doctors told him a bacterial infection had spread into his left leg and that it would have to be amputated. “When I got to Baptist Hospital, they told me I was nearly dead from the infection,” said Derrick. He said doctors told him it was either his "life or limb." The ensuing medical malpractice lawsuit filed alleged that Michael Derrick’s doctor was negligent in his post-operation care. During eight post-surgery visits his doctor did not properly diagnose Derrick as having a bacterial infection until it had spread to the point that amputation was a medical necessity. The jury found in Michael Derrick’s favor and awarded him $1.5 million. “While we're disappointed they (jury) did not find in our favor, we did receive a fair trial in front of 12 fine citizens of Madison County,” said the attorney for the defense.