A 45-year-old rancher won $6 million this week in a medical malpractice lawsuit against a Wahiawa physician.

In an Oahu Circuit Court judgment filed Monday, Antonio Richardson won $4.1 million in special damages and $2 million in general damages against physician Arnold Seid.

According to court records, Richardson went to Seid in 2001, when tests for health insurance showed signs of kidney disease. For two years, Seid treated Richardson for high blood pressure, ignoring test results indicating kidney disease, the plaintiff alleged.

Seid eventually referred Richardson to a specialist, but by then his kidneys were already dead, defense documents said.

Seid declined to comment yesterday.

An expert witness said Richardson should have been referred to a kidney specialist in 2001. Another witness said his kidney problems, if treated, could have been delayed or prevented.

The plaintiff's attorneys said Richardson, who owned a business in Central Oahu, suffered catastrophic injury to his health and business. The award pays for Richardson's ongoing medical expenses and lost wages.

“;We're very grateful,”; said Anna Oshiro, one of Richardson's attorneys. “;It's been a long time coming for him.”;

She added, “;It is the type of injury that can happen when you don't have somebody paying attention.”;