In brief: Knee surgery patient sues Providence, doctor for $10 million

A man claiming a Providence Health Care surgeon performed negligent knee replacement surgery is suing the health care provider for more than $10 million.

Jerry Hassman’s attorney, Richard Glein, said his client has had a total of 10 surgeries and two serious infections on his knee, dating back to a negligent surgery done by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Eugene Pontecorvo in November 2012.

Hassman’s complaint, filed in January, names Providence, Pontecorvo and four Providence health centers, including Sacred Heart Medical Center, as defendants.

He also alleges suffering injuries after slipping on ice that was not removed from the handicapped parking space at Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville.

Providence spokeswoman Elizabeth Deruyter said she could not comment on the allegations or confirm Pontecorvo’s previous employment with Providence.

“This matter is in litigation and because of that, we are unable to comment or answer any questions about the facts of the matter or the people involved,” she said.

Coeur d’Alene picks school finance head

A former East Valley School District official likely will be the new finance and operations director for the Coeur d’Alene School District.

Coeur d’Alene Superintendent Matt Handelman said Tuesday the district intends to hire Brian Wallace, pending school board approval. The district has been without a finance director since the abrupt exit of Wendell Wardell in November.

Wallace worked for the East Valley School District before joining the Washougal School District.

He’s a graduate of Wallace High School in Shoshone County and earned degrees from the University of Idaho and California State University.

Wallace, who lives in Rathdrum and is a Lakeland School Board member, will start May 4.

Facebook post aids in burglary arrest

Feedback on a Facebook post helped Post Falls police arrest a burglary suspect Tuesday.

Detectives arrested Dylan Guthrie, 22, of Post Falls, on suspicion of breaking into a grocery store and stealing several cartons of cigarettes early Monday.

A surveillance video showed a man throwing a rock through the front door of Frontier Grocery on West Seltice Way about 3:40 a.m.

The Post Falls Police Department posted the video and several photos on its Facebook page Monday afternoon and received tips leading them to the suspect’s residence.