$6.3 Million Jury Verdict for Doctor’s Failure to Diagnose Artery Dissection

Mark Brown was a 39-year-old high school wrestling coach who began experiencing dizziness, neck pain, blurred vision and nausea while at a wrestling practice. He went to a local hospital, and paramedics transferred him to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center where he was given a CT scan without contrast as part of a stroke workup.

The next day, Brown was discharged with a diagnosis of benign positional vertigo.

On the way home from the hospital, he suffered a massive stroke that caused severe brain damage. As a result, he lost vision and experienced difficulties with walking and speaking, among other problems. Brown now requires 24-hour-a-day care.

He filed a lawsuit against Banner Health, claiming that the medical facility chose not to include a vertebral artery dissection in the differential diagnosis.

Brown also claimed that a CT scan with contrast (he was given a CT scan without contrast) would have shown the dissection and he could have taken Heparin to avoid a stroke. He also maintained that Banner Health chose not to review the records from the first facility where he was seen. Brown went to a local hospital first and then was transferred to Banner Health.

The jury’s verdict was $6,300,000 in favor of Brown and against Banner Health.
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The attorneys successfully representing Brown were Joseph D’Aguanno and Shawn Cunningham.

At trial, the Brown attorneys presented the testimony of experts in emergency medicine, vascular neurology, life care planning and economics.

The defendant, Banner Health, presented experts in emergency medicine and neurology.

Brown v. Banner Health, No. CV-2014-014745 (Arizona Superior Court, Maricopa County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been successfully representing individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or died as a result of the negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Calumet City, Dolton, Highwood, North Chicago, Northbrook, Northfield, Fox River Grove, Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Schiller Park, Carol Stream, Batavia, North Aurora, Naperville, Plainfield, Lockport, Burr Ridge, Westmont, Chicago (Uptown, West Rogers Park, Irving Park, Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, United Center Park, West Loop, Pilsen, Edgewater, Lincoln Square), Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Evanston, Ill.