Russell Kazda, 50, developed a splinter wound in his right pinky finger. A hand specialist, Dr. James Schlenker, performed a surgical procedure to remove the splinter. In doing so, Dr. Schlenker opened Kazda’s palm to examine his tendon. About a week after this procedure, Kazda returned to Dr. Schlenker and…
Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney Blog
$2 Million Jury Verdict for Injured Patient Caused by Misplacement of Surgical Mesh
Lynne Niemynski, 63, suffered from stress incontinence. She saw Dr. Arthur Thorpe Jr. a gynecologist, who recommended a transobturator urethral sling to improve her condition. She underwent this procedure. However, for the next nine months, she complained of worsening symptoms, including bladder spasms, discharge and bleeding. Even with application of…
$8 Million Jury Verdict: Patient Left with Left-Sided Paralysis and Cognitive Difficulties Caused by Discontinuation of Blood Thinner
Graciela Gomez McCallum was diagnosed as having cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation for which she was prescribed Coumadin therapy and placed with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). She was in her mid-70s when she consulted with a cardiac electrophysiologist, Dr. Peter Garcia, and cardiologist Dr. Jose Marquez, who managed her cardiac…
Illinois Appellate Court Affirms Medical Malpractice-Wrongful Death Verdict for Hospital
The Illinois Appellate Court for the 2nd District issued a Supreme Court Rule 23 Order in July 2017 that affirmed the jury’s finding in favor of Advocate Condell Medical Center in a medical malpractice death case. The court delivered its opinion on Oct. 4, 2017. In this case, the appeals…
U.S. Court of Appeals Affirms Jury Verdict in Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Under Federal Tort Claims Act
According to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago, the judge’s bench trial decision was affirmed. In this case, Phillip Madden brought a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) against the United States from an ultimately fatal medical incident in which he suffered while…
$543,000 Jury Verdict in Medical Malpractice Case In Which Patient Suffered Complications After Weight Loss Surgery
James P. McKillip underwent a sleeve gastrectomy for weight reduction at a hospital in Rock Island, Ill. This took place in January 2012 by the defendant general surgeon, Dr. James Schrier. McKillip was 46 years old at the time. According to the report of this jury trial, McKillip’s expert testified…
$28.9 Million Jury Verdict in the Late Diagnosis of Wilson’s Disease
Emilee Williams, a 21-year-old student, consulted an internist at Mercy Clinic Springfield Communities when she experienced tremors, balance and concentration problems, insomnia and panic attacks. She was diagnosed as having fatigue and depression and was prescribed medication. Almost five months later, she returned to the clinic in a deteriorated condition…
$10 Million Jury Verdict for Misdiagnosis of Abscess
Michael Shimko was 17 years old when he went to the Geisinger-Kistler Clinic for treatment of what he thought was a hemorrhoid. A second-year resident, Dr. Christian Basque, diagnosed a hemorrhoid without examining Shimko. Dr. Basque prescribed a rectal suppository. Eight months later, Shimko’s mother contacted Dr. Stephen Evans, Shimko’s…
Illinois Appellate Court Revives Medical Device Lawsuit Dismissed by Federal Pre-Emption
According to the report of this Illinois Appellate Court (1st District) decision, new ground is being broken in a lawsuit brought by Senayda Norabuena against Medtronic Inc. The suit, which was first dismissed on motion, involved the use of a Medtronic medical device implanted in a spinal fusion surgery. The…
$1.3 Million Settlement for Late Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
Ms. Doe, age 37, developed shortness of breath eight days after giving birth. A CT angiogram to rule out a pulmonary embolism revealed an enlarged right-sided axillary lymph node. Despite this finding, Ms. Doe’s healthcare providers ordered no further follow up. Over a year later, Ms. Doe discovered a lump…