$5.6 Million Jury Verdict for Patient Left Paraplegic Following Late Diagnosis of Spinal Abscess

Aaron Riedel, who was 28 at the time, went to Lodi Community Hospital emergency room complaining of back pain. He told the emergency department staff that he was taking an antibiotic to treat a MRSA infection. Riedel was later discharged from Lodi Community Hospital with a diagnosis of simple muscle strain.

The next day, he returned to the emergency room with worsening back pain. Again, Riedel informed the emergency department staff about the antibiotic he was taking and his MRSA history. The emergency room physician, Dr. Christopher Kalapodis, ordered a CT scan, which ruled out a kidney stone as the cause of the problem.

Riedel was then given a dose of morphine and an anti-inflammatory before he was again discharged. The next day however, he required additional treatment in the emergency room where he was diagnosed as having a spinal epidural abscess. Despite efforts through surgery and rehabilitation, Riedel was left a paraplegic.

Riedel and his two minor daughters sued the hospital, Dr. Kalapodis and an emergency room corporation claiming that the late diagnosis of Riedel’s spinal abscess was the cause of his paraplegia. The Riedel family claimed that the defendants should have at least referred Riedel for an MRI during the second emergency room visit in view of his recent MRSA infection, which likely could spread and lead to a spinal abscess. The lawsuit did not make a claim for lost income.

After this jury trial, the jury signed its verdict for $5,600,000 finding the defendants, and each of them, jointly liable. The jury’s verdict included $200,000 to each of Riedel’s minor daughters.

The attorneys who excellently handled this case for the Riedel family were William Hawal and Stuart E. Scott.

Riedel v. Akron General Health System, No. 14-cv-834147 (Ohio Court, Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been successfully handling misdiagnosis of infection cases, anesthesiology errors, brain injury cases, failure to diagnose cancer cases, pharmaceutical litigation matters, radiology malpractice cases, transplant errors and nursing malpractice cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed 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 Forest Park, Oak Park, Harwood Heights, Park Ridge, Northbrook, Glencoe, Glenview, Northfield, Wheeling, Vernon Hills, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Evanston, Hinsdale, Evergreen Park, Fox River Grove, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Geneva, St. Charles, Aurora, Chicago (Garfield Park, Pilsen, Lincoln Square, Bronzeville, Back of the Yards, Gold Coast, Kenwood, Kilbourn Park, University of Chicago, Wrigleyville, Wildwood, Sheffield, Norwood Park, Little Italy, Archer Heights, Armour Square), Oak Brook and Villa Park, Ill.