$11.05 Million Jury Verdict in Failure to Treat Emergency Compartment Syndrome Resulting in Double Leg Amputation

Michael Fava, 58, went to the emergency department complaining of leg pain that had not improved since he was seen at another hospital the previous day. He was diagnosed with having a retroperitoneal hemorrhage and a lack of blood flow to the legs.

However, the treating vascular surgeons, Dr. Harold Chung-Loy and Dr. Vincent Moss, chose not to determine the cause of the bleeding.

Fava spent four days in the hospital, which ended when he had bilateral above-the-knee leg amputations as a result of the lack of blood flow to his legs.

Fava sued Dr. Chung-Loy, Dr. Moss and their medical group claiming they failed to perform an emergency fasciotomy surgery to restore circulation in his legs and relieve pressure on his muscles caused by compartment syndrome and bleeding.

He also named the hospital under a vicarious liability theory.

The jury signed a verdict for $11.05 million reduced by 10% to reflect his pre-existing condition. Post-trial motions were reported to be pending.

The attorneys successfully representing Michael Fava were Carol L. Forte and Kenneth Elwood.

At trial, Fava’s attorneys presented experts in vascular surgery, general surgery and anesthesiology.

The defendants presented an expert in vascular surgery.

Fava v. Moss, No. MIDL-004567-14 (N.J. Super Ct. Middlesex County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical negligence lawsuits, surgical negligence cases, birth trauma injury cases and hospital negligence lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Tinley Park, North Riverside, Franklin Park, Frankfurt, Naperville, Schiller Park, Bensenville, South Holland, River Grove, Chicago (Logan Square, Chinatown, Canaryville, Bridgeport, Hegewisch, East Side, South Chicago, South Loop, West Town, Belmont Harbor, Ravenswood, Edgewater), Barrington, Blue Island and Worth, Ill.