$4 Million Jury Verdict in Failure to Obtain an Order Timely CT Scan

Michael Gerhards, 68, hit his head when he slipped and fell on ice outside his home. He was taken by ambulance to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center where he was diagnosed as having a forehead laceration and right shoulder strain. He was sent home.

Over the next few weeks, he followed up with various internists at a health clinic regarding ongoing headaches, amnesia and fatigue.

Gerhards was advised to take pain medication. Three weeks after the fall, his wife found him unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital where a CT scan revealed a bilateral subdural hematoma that was causing a brain herniation. He underwent two brain surgeries.

As a result of this incident, Gerhards is no longer able to practice dentistry. He suffers from lost cognitive function, including memory loss, and has diminished fine motor skills which are imperative for a dental professional.

Gerhards and his wife sued three treating internists, alleging they chose not to order a timely CT scan, obtain a detailed history of the head injury and advise him and his family about the warning signs of intracranial bleeding.

The case was tried before a Multnomah County jury in Portland, Ore. The jury signed a verdict for $4 million. Several days after the jury entered its verdict, the parties settled confidentially.

The attorneys who successfully handled this case for the Gerhards family were David K. Miller and Robert S. Wagner, both of Portland, Ore.

Gerhards v. Providence Health Services-Organ., No. 19CV00997 (Or. Cir. Ct. Multnomah County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling misdiagnosis of brain injury lawsuits, traumatic brain injury cases, catastrophic injury lawsuits, medical malpractice lawsuits, and birth trauma injury 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 45 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Justice, Palos Hills, Evergreen Park, Crestwood, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Hazel Crest, Chicago Heights, Olympia Fields, Frankfurt, LaGrange Highlands, North Riverside, Melrose Park, Bensenville, Rolling Meadows, Palatine, Inverness, Northfield, Evanston, Lincolnwood, Chicago (Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, West Garfield Park, Hermosa, Belmont Gardens, Palmer Square, Sheffield Mayfield Neighbors, River North, South Loop, Armour Square, Oakland, Jackson Park, Grand Crossing, Chicago Lawn, Roscoe Village, Cottage Grove Heights, Morgan Park, East Side), Countryside, Summit, and Wilmette, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.