"The Daily Show" host Trevor Noah has sued the New York-based Hospital for Special Surgery, claiming Dr. Riley Williams III, an orthopedic surgeon, botched an undisclosed operation last year.
The suit, which was filed in Supreme Court in Manhattan, where the hospital is located, says it is in relation to care Noah received during "Aug. 25, 2020 through approximately Dec. 17, 2020." The Supreme Court is New York state's main trial court.
In the suit, Noah alleges that Williams cared "for various medical conditions and other related treatment, including surgery which was performed on November 23, 2020," court documents show.
Noah alleges in the suit that all care he was given at the Hospital for Special Surgery "was performed and rendered in a negligent and careless manner, and constituted professional negligence," according to court documents.
In a statement, the Hospital for Special Surgery, or HSS, said the allegations are "meritless." It said it sent "Noah’s attorney a detailed rebuttal to the claims, which are meritless."
Federal privacy laws prohibit the hospital from addressing specific accusations publicly or aspects of a patient's care.
"HSS is committed to excellence in the care we provide to each of the more than 150,000 patients we treat each year. This commitment has made HSS the world’s leading academic medical center specialized in musculoskeletal health, consistently ranked #1 in orthopedics globally and nationally," the statement reads.
As a result of the negligence, the document alleges, Noah "sustained permanent, severe and grievous injuries."
Noah "was rendered sick, sore, lame and disabled; sustained severe and painful personal injuries; sustained severe nervous shock, mental anguish, severe emotional distress and great physical pain; was confined to bed and home for a long period of time; was compelled to undergo hospital and medical aid, treatment and attention; has suffered loss of enjoyment of life; was prevented from engaging in his usual occupation for a long period of time; and since some of his injuries are of a permanent nature, he will continue to suffer similar damages in the future," the court documents say.
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
Williams' profile on the hospital's website says he specializes in "knee, shoulder and elbow surgery."
Williams is the medical director and head team orthopedic surgeon for professional sports teams like the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA's New York Liberty. He is also a team physician for USA Basketball.
