Alabama Man Files Suit Saying Blood Transfer Gave Him HIV

An Alabama man has filed a lawsuit against a Florida blood bank, charging that a transfusion during a coronary bypass surgery infected him with HIV.

The lawsuit alleges that the contaminated blood given to Howard Midkiff came from the Alabama branch of Gainesville, Fla.-based LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.

Calls for comment to LifeSouth were not returned as of late Monday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for the Baptist Health hospital system where the transfusion was given says Midkiff is the only one believed to have been given blood from the donor in question. She says they have never experienced a case like this before and don’t expect to in the future.

MidKiff’s attorneys sought unspecified damages, but are asking for that the award exceed the minimum required.