$19.85 Million Settlement Reached in Negligent Transfer, Treatment of Stroke

Eric Smith, 47, had been diagnosed with hypertension and suffered an intracranial hemorrhage at home.
He was assessed at a hospital and then transferred to another hospital for neurosurgical intervention in the event his hemorrhage worsened.

Smith remained stable at the second hospital and, several days later, was moved yet again into a third hospital where he was administered high doses of antihypertensive drugs and diuretics.
Smith’s condition initially improved at the third hospital but then began to deteriorate. This included the development of a dangerously low blood pressure.

Smith then suffered a series of ischemic strokes, which led to quadriparesis and dysphagia. He is now dependent on others for 24-hour-a-day care. Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing difficulties. Some people with dysphagia have problems swallowing certain foods or liquids, while others cannot swallow at all. Other signs of dysphagia include coughing or choking when eating or drinking.

Smith sued the three hospitals, alleging that the first two facilities had negligently transferred him while his blood pressure was fluctuating and the third hospital had chosen not to stabilize his blood pressure when it became dangerously low.

The first two hospitals settled with Smith for $250,000 while the third hospital settled with Smith for $19.85 million.

The attorneys successfully handling this tragic case were Nathan P. Roberts, Micah R. LeBank and Susan Wassell.

The attorneys for Smith presented experts in neurology, vascular neurology, neuroradiology, nephrology, lifecare planning, vocational rehabilitation and economics.

The defendants presented experts in neuroradiology, neurology, neurosurgery and hospital medicine.

Smith v. Roe Hospital, Confidential Docket.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling hospital negligence lawsuits, misdiagnosis lawsuits, physician negligence cases and wrongful death 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 45 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including LaGrange, Summit, Bedford Park, Justice, Willow Springs, Naperville, Warrenville, Glen Ellyn, Melrose Park, Oak Park, North Riverside, Elk Grove Village, Itasca, Roselle, Skokie, Schiller Park, Northbrook, Deerfield, Homewood, Vernon Hills, Lake Barrington, Chicago (Norwood Park, North Mayfair, Albany Park, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, River North, West Loop, South Loop, Chinatown, Little Village, Bridgeport, Canaryville, Back of the Yards, Gage Park), Westchester, Brookfield, Rosemont and Glenview, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.