Cook County commissioners voted Feb. 5, 2013, to pay $24 million in hospital malpractice settlements. Of that total, $20 million will be paid to the family of a boy who suffered brain damage after a heart attack following surgery at a Chicago hospital. A lawsuit was filed against Stroger Hospital…
Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney Blog
Illinois Supreme Court Decides Arbitration Rights in Nursing Home Death Case; Carter v. SSC Odin Operating Co.
Sue Carter brought Joyce Gott to the Odin Nursing Home in 2005. Carter signed an arbitration agreement as Gott’s “legal representative.” Gott also signed an arbitration agreement with Odin after she was admitted to the nursing home facility. Carter’s lawsuit filed against Odin claimed that the nursing home’s negligence caused…
LASIK Surgery Mishap Leads to Jury Verdict of $362,274; Spevak v. Doctors for Visual Freedom
Tracy Spevak had undergone a LASIK surgery on her right eye once before. However, in January 2007, the defendant ophthalmologist did a LASIK surgery to attempt to enhance vision in Tracy’s right eye. During the surgery, Dr. Mark Golden, the defendant ophthalmologist, chose to re-cut the original LASIK flap, causing…
Illinois Appellate Court Rejects Emergency Room Doctor’s Claim That He is Immune under the Good Samaritan Act
The Illinois Good Samaritan Act (745 ILCS 49/25 (West 2010)) states that a medical professional who, in good faith, “provides emergency care without fee to a person” should be immune from civil damages except in the case of willful or wanton misconduct. Immunity from suit was the position taken by…
3.1 Million Jury Verdict for Death of Patient Following Heart Procedure; Estate of Teague v. Holy Cross Hospital
Lillie Teague, 74, underwent an angiogram, which is an x-ray exam that uses a dye and camera to look at the blood flow in an artery or vein. Many angiograms are used to examine the arteries near the heart, lungs, brain and the aorta. The procedure requires the use of…
Nursing Home Visits Key to the Mental Health of Residents
Especially during the holidays, it is so important to visit loved ones, family members and friends who are residents of nursing home facilities, assisted living facilities and hospice care facilities. Nursing home residents who are surrounded by family and concerned friends always are uplifted. Too many times residents of nursing…
428,000 Cook County Verdict for Misread X-ray; Drummond v. Dr. Brossard
In a lawsuit resulting in a Cook County jury verdict, it was alleged by plaintiff Ryan Drummond that in August 2004, the defendant, Dr. Robert Brossard, a radiologist, chose not to correctly interpret x-rays of Drummond’s right hand. In addition, it was claimed that Dr. Brossard missed a fracture of…
$67.5 Million Shareholder Settlement with Pfizer over Pristiq
A class-action lawsuit brought by a named plaintiff, City of Livonia Employees’ Retirement System, has resulted in a $67.5 million settlement of the class-action lawsuit brought by former shareholders of Wyeth, Inc. The lawsuit alleged that shareholders were misled about the risks associated with the antidepressant, Pristiq. The settlement was…
2.2 Million Cook County Verdict in Misdiagnosed Fungal Infection; D.G.K. v. Dr. Mehregan
DGK saw her primary care physician, Dr. Raymond Di Pasquo, for recently developed skin lesions. After having seen Dr. Di Pasquo on Nov. 20, 2001, DGK consulted with a dermatologist, Dr. Robert Signore, who biopsied the lesion on her right lateral thorax on Dec. 3, 2001. The biopsy was sent…
Illinois Jury Awards $4.5 Million in Wrongful Death/Medical Negligence Case
A recent Will County jury verdict found Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Ill., and an internal medical doctor responsible for the death of a 43-year-old man. The children of J.E., the deceased, will receive $3.35 million after a jury returned a verdict of $4.5 million to the 43-year-old…