Kreisman Law Offices Professional Corporation
Angelica Heavner, 41, went to the hospital emergency room for treatment of jaw and head pain. A hospital employee placed an IV into Heavner’s metacarpal vein on her right hand. The insertion of the IV caused her to develop a blister at that site, plus burning and stinging pain.
The IV was not removed immediately. Heavner developed complications and was later diagnosed with having complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) of the right hand, which necessitated medication and a spinal cord stimulator. CRPS, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, causes chronic pain in patients who have contracted it. The cause of CRPS is varied. In some cases, the cause of CRPS is the dysfunction in the central or peripheral nervous system.
Heavner filed a lawsuit against the hospital, alleging its employee negligently inserted the IV, which resulted in nerve contact and thus was the cause of the CRPS. The lawsuit also maintained that the defendant’s failure to promptly identify the problem and remove the IV led to the chronic pain syndrome. There was no claim for lost income.
The jury’s verdict was $435,000 in favor of Angelica Heavner. Her attorneys were David J. Martin and Timothy Capurso.
At trial, the plaintiffs introduced expert testimony in nursing, neurology, economics and life-care planning. The defendant presented an expert in nursing practices.
Heavner v. Frederick Memorial Hospital, No. 10 C 14001745 (Md. Cir. Ct. Frederick County, Oct. 28, 2015).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling hospital negligence cases, wrongful death cases, nursing home abuse cases, birth injury lawsuits and catastrophic injury cases for individuals and families who have been injured or killed by the negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas including, Robbins, Alsip, Chicago Ridge, Worth, Palos Heights, Chicago (Hyde Park, Sauganash, South Chicago, South Shore, West Loop, Wrigleyville, McKinley Park, North Park, DePaul University Area, Diversey Harbor, Gold Coast, Hegewisch, Horner Park, Humboldt Park, Chinatown, Canaryville, Bucktown, Little Italy, Lincoln Square), Riverdale, Brookfield, LaGrange Park and Western Springs, Ill.
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