On March 21, 2007, Daniel Gapinski underwent neurosurgery at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill. The surgery was for resection of the brain mass in the pituitary area. The defendant, Dr. Neena Gujrati, was the pathologist who interpreted the tissue specimens. Dr. Gujrati concluded that the tissue specimen…
Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney Blog
Illinois Appellate Court Orders New Trial After Inconsistent Medical Malpractice Jury Verdict
In a strange but interesting medical malpractice case, the jury entered a verdict in favor of the plaintiff without awarding a single dollar for plaintiff’s noneconomic damages. In April 2013, after a three-day jury trial, the jury found in this medical negligence lawsuit that the defendant physician Dr. Sublette was…
$6.6 Million Jury Award to Patient Who Suffered Paralysis from his Chest Down Because the Doctor in the Emergency Department Chose Not to Notify the Patient of Test Results Indicating Systemic Blood Infection
HW was 44 years old and had a history of heroin abuse. He developed severe back pain and then went to a local hospital’s emergency room telling the nursing staff that he was also suffering from heroin addiction and that he had experienced fever and nausea. HW underwent testing, including…
$3.43 Million Jury Verdict for Unnecessary and Excessive Patient Surgeries
Patricia McCleod, 49, suffered from pain, numbness and tingling in her left leg. A plastic surgeon, Dr. Patrick Swier, ordered testing and later diagnosed McCleod with lower extremity nerve compression. Dr. Swier recommended surgery to avoid permanent nerve damage. Dr. Swier performed nine separate nerve procedures on McLeod’s left leg.…
$1.5 Million Jury Verdict for Toxic Substance Used in Cataract Surgery Leaves Patient Blinded
Jerry Medlin, 60, underwent cataract surgery in his left eye. The surgery was completed by an ophthalmologist, Dr. Timothy Young. During the surgery, Dr. Young called for VisionBlue, a staining solution used in cataract surgeries. A nurse during surgery tried unsuccessfully to retrieve the solution from the hospital’s automated medication…
Jury Enters $10.93 Million Verdict for Doctor’s Failure to Take Adequate History of Pregnant Patient
J.B. was 35 years old and in her 26th week of her third pregnancy when she developed a severe headache and abdominal cramping. J.B. called her treating obstetrician’s office and later spoke to an on-call physician. That doctor diagnosed a gastrointestinal issue and told J.B. that there was no need…
Illinois Supreme Court Refuses to Extend Evidentiary Privileges to Agency in Wrongful-Death Case
A wrongful-death case was brought against One Hope United Inc., one of its employees and the Cook County public guardian who was acting as administrator of 7-month-old Marshana Philpot. One Hope provides services to troubled families under a contract with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). One…
Illinois Appellate Court Agrees That Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Wrongful Death Be Dismissed for Missing the Statute of Limitations Filing Date
Three years after the death of Kathryn Moon, the plaintiff, Randall Moon, who served as executor of his mother’s estate, filed a wrongful death and survival action lawsuit against the defendants, Dr. Clarissa Rhode and Central Illinois Radiological Associates Ltd. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s complaint…
Illinois Appellate Court Rules that an Emergency-Room Physician who Rode in Ambulance is Immune from Medical Malpractice
The Illinois Appellate Court ruled that the emergency-room resident physician, Dr. Nicholas Strane, was immune from suit under the Illinois Emergency Medical Services System Act. This case arises out of transporting an 11-year-old boy, Donail Weems, who had a severe asthma attack and was taken to Provident Hospital, which is…
Cook County Jury Finds for Doctor in Fatal Bleeding After Anticoagulation Therapy
In December 2009, Marion Peterson was admitted to Our Lady of Resurrection Hospital in Chicago because of respiratory distress. After several days in the intensive care unit, she was transferred to a stepdown unit and started on the anticoagulant Lovenox for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat or…