$3.92 Million Jury Verdict Entered for Medical Malpractice Death Caused by Failure to Diagnose Coronary Artery Disease

Michael Mills was 28 and had a history of smoking and borderline hypertension. He experienced chest pain for a year. He had seen a cardiologist, Dr. Hassan Kassamali, who ordered an echocardiogram, which was shown to be normal.

Mills had two additional appointments with Dr. Kassamali for his continued symptoms of chest pain, but the physician ordered no further tests.

About three weeks after his last cardiology appointment, Mills suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. The autopsy revealed triple-vessel coronary artery disease. Mills is survived by his parents and a minor son.

The Mills family and estate sued Dr. Kassamali for medical malpractice claiming that he chose not to diagnose coronary artery disease, which was the cause of Mills’ untimely death. The Mills estate claimed that Dr. Kassamali should have ordered a stress test, prescribed medication and ordered a catheterization in light of Mills’ unexplained chest pain. There was no claim for lost income in this lawsuit.

The jury’s verdict of $3,920,000 was reduced to $2,820,000 because of the Maryland noneconomic damages cap. Illinois has found such noneconomic caps on medical malpractice lawsuits to be unconstitutional.

Mills v. Kassamali, No. 03C14012573 (Md. Cir. Ct. Baltimore County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been successfully handling wrongful death lawsuits, medical malpractice cases, birth trauma injury cases, hospital negligence cases and physician negligence lawsuits for individuals, families and the 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 University Park, Naperville, Wheaton, Hinsdale, Homewood, Wilmette, Vernon Hills, Northfield, Northbrook, Oak Forest, Alsip, South Holland, Blue Island, Elmhurst, Park Ridge, Palatine, Lansing, Matteson, Melrose Park, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Chicago (Gold Coast, East Garfield Park, Ravenswood Gardens, South Chicago, South Loop, South Shore, West Loop, Bucktown, Buena Park, Canaryville, Beverly, Belmont Central, Back of the Yards, Austin, Lithuanian Plaza, Loyola Park, McKinley Park, Morgan Park), Des Plaines, Evergreen Park and Country Club Hills, Ill.