$412 Million Verdict: The NuMale Medical Fraud Case That Made History

The Largest Single-Plaintiff Medical Malpractice Verdict in U.S. History

In November 2024, a jury in Albuquerque, New Mexico returned a verdict that shattered records: $412 million awarded to a single plaintiff in a medical malpractice and fraud case. The case, Sanchez v. NuMale Medical Center, exposed a pattern of profit-driven medical fraud that left a patient permanently disfigured.

What Happened

Michael Sanchez was 66 years old when he walked into NuMale Medical Center, a chain that markets itself as "America's number one men's health clinic." His complaint was simple: fatigue and a desire to manage his weight. That's it.

According to the lawsuit, instead of addressing his actual concerns, a physician's assistant at the clinic diagnosed Michael with erectile dysfunction — a condition he never complained about. Michael was a widower. He told them he wasn't sexually active. He told them he wasn't interested in ED treatment. The PA pushed the diagnosis anyway and sold him a treatment plan that included testosterone pellet implants and at-home penile injections.

When Michael felt the injections weren't working, he returned to the clinic. The PA demonstrated the injection method in the office, which resulted in priapism — a prolonged, medically induced erection that lasted approximately sixty hours. Emergency surgery followed. The damage was permanent and irreversible.

What Went Wrong

The standard of care violations in this case were numerous and severe:

• **Fabricated diagnosis**: Michael did not have erectile dysfunction, and he explicitly told the providers he wasn't sexually active
• **Inappropriate treatment**: Penile injection therapy is not a first-line treatment for ED. FDA guidelines require starting with less invasive options
• **No dose titration**: Injection therapy requires careful, supervised dose adjustment by a qualified urologist
• **No monitoring**: Ongoing monitoring for dangerous side effects is required and was never provided
• **Profit motive**: The plaintiff's attorneys presented evidence that NuMale was running a scheme to coerce men into paying for invasive treatments they didn't need

The Verdict

After three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict:

• **$37 million** in compensatory damages
• **$375 million** in punitive damages
• **Total: $412 million** (expected to exceed $550 million with interest)

The massive punitive damages component sends a clear message: the jury wasn't just compensating Michael for his injuries. They were punishing NuMale and deterring similar conduct across the industry.

What You Can Learn From This Case

This case offers several important lessons for patients:

• **Red flag — the upsell**: If any medical provider is trying to sell you a treatment for a condition you didn't come in for, that is a red flag. Medicine is not sales.
• **Get a second opinion**: Before agreeing to any invasive procedure, especially involving injections, implants, or surgery, ask your primary care doctor whether the diagnosis and treatment make sense.
• **Beware aggressive marketing**: Clinics that advertise aggressively with promises of quick fixes deserve extra scrutiny.
• **Check the provider**: Know who is treating you. In this case, the person who made the diagnosis and administered the treatment was a physician's assistant, not a urologist. Verify board certification and check for complaints.

The Bigger Picture

The Sanchez verdict is a landmark not just for its size, but for what it represents. Medical fraud — disguised as legitimate care — is a growing concern. When profit motives override patient welfare, the consequences can be devastating and permanent.

If you've experienced something similar — a diagnosis that didn't make sense, treatment you didn't ask for, or pressure to undergo invasive procedures — understanding your rights is the first step. Learn more about the legal elements of a medical malpractice claim on our Do I Have a Case page.