$267,500 Jury Verdict for Negligent Laparoscopy

Leslie Pederson, 40, underwent a laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy that was done by a gynecologist affiliated with Buffalo Clinic, P.A. During this procedure, the doctor reinserted the trocar without using a camera for direct visualization.

As a result, Pederson suffered a 5-mm laceration to her right common iliac artery that required an emergency laparotomy.
As manager for a transportation company, she missed several months from her job and was later fired. She had lost income of $47,000. Pederson went back to school to train for a different job and profession.

Pederson and her husband filed a lawsuit against Buffalo Clinic claiming that it was liable for the doctor’s negligence for reinserting the trocar without a camera. A trocar is a surgical device usually made out of metal or plastic and sharpened at its end. Trocars are mostly used in laparoscopic surgery. The instrument has a sharp-pointed end with a cannula used to insert the cannula into the body cavity as a drainage device. It’s used to withdraw fluid from the surgical area.

The jury’s verdict included $267,500 to Pederson, which included $25,000 to her husband. The parties later settled for undisclosed amount.

The attorney who successfully handled this lawsuit was Reed McKenzie.

At trial, the Pederson family presented an expert in gynecology, while the defendant presented experts in vascular surgery, gynecology and neurology.

Pederson v. Buffalo Clinic, No. 86-CV-2016-002847 (Minn. Dist. Ct. Wright County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical malpractice lawsuits, surgical error cases, hospital negligence lawsuits, nursing negligence cases and wrongful death lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Barrington, Arlington Heights, Elmhurst, Elmwood Park, Melrose Park, Vernon Hills, Glenview, Northfield, Winnetka, Wilmette, Waukegan, Crystal Lake, Cary, Chicago (Greek Town, Wicker Park, West Rogers Park, Austin), Romeoville, Bolingbrook and Calumet City, Ill.