An Adams County Circuit Court jury returned a $250,000 verdict against Natchez Community Hospital late Wednesday.

After deliberating an hour and 15 minutes, the jury of eight women and four men ruled in favor of Dr. Vann Craig, a retired general surgeon from Natchez and former president of the Mississippi Medical Association.

&uot;It was a slip and fall case,&uot; said Circuit Judge Forrest &uot;Al&uot; Johnson.

Craig slipped and fell on a freshly mopped floor at Natchez Community Hospital on Aug. 7, 1997.

Then 62 years old, Craig claimed the resulting injuries to his wrist and knee shortened his surgical career.

In its verdict, the jury ruled that both Craig and the hospital were equally at fault for the accident and awarded Craig $250,000 of the $500,000 in damages sought, Johnson said.

The case began with jury selection on Monday and ended around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Johnson said.

Attorney John Mulhearn of Natchez represented Craig in the case. Mike Myers of law firm of Currie, Johnson, Griffin, Gaines and Myers of Jackson represented Natchez Community.

Raymond Bane, executive director of Natchez Community Hospital, had no comment Thursday on the verdict.