HAMMOND | A Lake County jury found in favor of a Gary woman who had sued two area doctors last year in the death of her husband.

The jury on Tuesday returned a verdict of $1 million against Dr. Henrique Scott, who practices in Griffith, and Dr. Paul Okolocha, who has offices in Gary and East Chicago.

The suit was brought by Pinkey Greer, of Gary, whose husband, J.D. Greer, 72, had been admitted to the Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Merrillville with abdominal problems.

According to Greer's attorney, Barry Rooth, of Merrillville, no measures were taken by the physicians to prevent blood clots until after surgery was performed on Greer's husband. When the measures were taken, they were alleged to have been insufficient to prevent the blood clot that caused his death.

Rooth credited the jury for recognizing the significance of blood clot prevention. Pulmonary embolism is one of the most common and preventable causes of hospital death, Rooth said Wednesday.

Opposing attorney Dan Gioia, also of Merrillville, said his client vehemently denied any negligence.

"He's obviously disappointed," Gioia said of Okolocha. "He does not think he was negligent in any way."

Schererville attorney Michael O'Neill. representing Scott, said all three physicians on the independent, randomly selected Medical Review Panel that reviewed Greer's care unanimously found Scott had provided appropriate care.

"Accordingly, we are both disappointed with the jury's decision and are exploring our options for an appeal," O'Neill said.