$3.86 Million Jury Verdict for Injuries Suffered from Failure to Perform Stroke Workup

Paul Chicoine was 47 years old when he experienced nausea, vomiting and extreme dizziness as he was painting a ceiling. He then developed left-sided numbness, weakness, and slurred speech.

He was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he was given medication. An emergency physician, Dr. Michael Mendola, ordered blood tests and a CT scan of the head. The finding from the CT scan was negative except for a note about a sinus inflammation. Chicoine was then discharged with the diagnosis of vertigo and sinusitis.

Eight days after discharge, he suffered a stroke. After extensive rehabilitation over eight months, he returned to his job as a court officer. He has been unable to continue working due to his deficits, which included vision impairment and limited use of his left hand, which were the result of the stroke.

Chicoine and his wife sued Dr. Mendola and the hospital alleging that they chose not to perform a stroke workup. The Chicoine plaintiffs maintained that the ambulance report showed that Chicoine was experiencing a possible stroke and that Dr. Mendola should have suspected a transient ischemic attack. In addition, the doctor should have ordered imaging of his carotid and vertebral arteries.

Chicoine claimed that his future lost earnings and past income exceeded $1.7 million.

The jury returned and signed a verdict for $3.86 million in favor of Chicoine. The attorney successfully handling this case for the Chicoine family was James LiCalzi.

Chicoine v. DiBaro, No. 591/12 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Nassau County, Feb. 6, 2019).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical malpractice lawsuits, misdiagnosis of stroke cases, hospital negligence lawsuits and emergency department negligence cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Willowbrook, North Chicago, East Hazel Crest, Cicero, Country Club Hills, Countryside, Buffalo Grove, Bridgeview, Blue Island, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Melrose Park, Orland Hills, Chicago (Roscoe Village, Oz Park, Little Village, Garfield Park, Logan Square, Bronzeville, Roscoe Village, Wicker Park, Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, Near South, Canaryville), Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Prospect Heights and LaGrange Park, Ill.