P. v. MacNeal, et al.

(2011) Medical Negligence: A woman underwent bariatric surgery for weight loss. Following the procedure, her clinician failed to identify signs and symptoms of infection associated with a failed anastomosis. The Plaintiff almost died as a result of developing sepsis but recovered with minimal mental deficits following exploratory surgery and repair of the gastric leak. Lead Counsel, Larry R. Rogers, Jr.

S.S., Individually and as Independent Administrator of the Estate of M.S., Deceased v. Advocate North Side health Network d/b/a Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

Medical Malpractice: After receiving a history of a patient falling out of a cab going 25-35 miles an hour, hospital staff, including trauma, neurosurgeons and nurses, provided inpatient care to Decedent. On the sixth day of hospitalization, the neurosurgical service and the nursing staff failed to do timely neuro checks, obtain CT scanning, and failed to diagnose increasing intracranial pressure, which had occurred in a delayed fashion following head trauma. That resulted in brain stem herniation and death. The patient was 46 years old at the time of his passing. He is survived by his wife, who remarried prior to trial, and their two minor children. Lead counsel Joseph A. Power, Jr.

(2017) Medical Malpractice: 42 year old male underwent successful bilateral lung transplant on December 27, 2015. On January 11 and 12, 2016, while his tracheotomy tube was capped for the first time overnight, his vitals were inadequately monitored and he experienced respiratory arrest that led to cardiac arrest which resulted in his death on January 12, 2016. He is survived by his wife and 3 children.

During August-September 2019, Plaintiff age 47, sought treatment from his PCP and two cardiologists for continuing cardiac symptoms. A stress test done on September 13 produced extremely abnormal results. However, the physicians failed to send the patient to the E/R for an immediate cardiac work-up. As a consequence, he developed ventricular fibrillation and died due to a cardiac event on September 25 (survived by his wife and two minor children). This settlement ties the prior reported Champaign County wrongful death “high.” (2021)

LG, Individually and as Independent Administrator of the Estate of EG, Deceased v. Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital, et al.

(2014) Medical Malpractice: 38 year old male presented to the emergency room at Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital on April 9, 2008 complaining of a sore throat, elevated temperature, chills and muscle pains throughout his body. A flu swab returned negative but his throat was not checked for strep. He was discharged with instructions to return if symptoms worsened. He re-presented to Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital on April 11, 2008 when his condition did not improve. The decision to discharge him on April 9, without identifying a bacterial source for his presenting complaints and treating him with antibiotics in the face of abnormal kidney function on lab testing, led to worsening of his condition and the development of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome which took his life on April 12, 2008. EG was survived by his wife and son.

Result: $4,000,000.00

MG as Special Administrator of the Estate of JG, Deceased v. The University of Chicago Medical Center

(2009) Medical Malpractice: 3½ year old male presented to University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital with complaints of bloody diarrhea six to seven times a day since the end of November 2007. An av malformation was identified at the jejunum/ileum following an exploratory laparoscopy and double balloon enteroscopy. The bowel was resected, however, six days later, during the admission, arm and leg ecchymoses developed, tachycardia, restlessness and discomfort in and around the abdomen. Eventually, the abdomen became firm and distended, a Code resulted and death occurred in the very early morning hours of December 17th. Plaintiff alleged a failure to identify post-operative bleeding and a failure to rectify residual av malformation at or near the site of the resection six days earlier.

Result: $4,000,000.00

AMH, a minor, by and through her Father and Mother as next friends, v. University of Chicago Health Systems, et al.

(2006) Medical Malpractice: Two year old child underwent surgery at The University of Chicago Hospital to remove a large liver mass. The anesthesiologist should have placed an arterial line in a location other than AMH’s right leg which had experienced vasospasm the previous day. Shortly after placing the arterial line the arterial wave form was lost. AMH’s right extremity was not checked until after the procedure about six (6) hours later. When AMH’s right leg was checked it was cool, dusky and blue. AMH required emergent vascular surgery. The extremity was salvaged. However, AMH lost all feeling in her leg below her knee.

Result: $4,000,000.00

Decedent was admitted to an undisclosed medical facility on 7/2/2015 while a patient on 7/6/2015 and under the care and treatment of physicians and staff at local hospital, decedent was found unresponsive with a significant amount of down time by medical personnel.   Unfortunately, as being resuscitated, the decedent did not regain consciousness and was transferred to an extended care facility with a diagnosis of acute systolic heart failure, cardiac arrest, and severe hypoxic brain injury.  He died of his injuries on November 10, 2017.

F50 presented to Hospital’s emergency department via ambulance with signs/symptoms of an ischemic stroke. Nine days prior, she had undergone an aneurysm stenting and coiling procedure at a different hospital.  The emergency room physician ordered intravenous Tenecteplase.  Repeat imaging performed hours later showed numerous brain bleeds, which caused her death two days later.  Plaintiff alleged that the patient should not have been given IV Tenecteplase due to an increased risk of bleeding associated with her recent neuro-interventional surgery.  Defendants and their experts opined that IV Tenecteplase was not contraindicated by the aneurysm coiling and stenting, as such a procedure is not a surgery and does not increase a patient’s risk for bleeding, and that IV Tenecteplase administration was proper under the applicable medical literature and hospital policies.  The patient was survived by her adult son.

B.C. Individually and as Special Administrator of the Estate of S.C., Deceased v Loyola University Medical Center

Medical Malpractice: 30 year old female presented to Loyola University Medical Center for a scheduled C-section. The delivery proceeded and was uneventful and without complication.

Plaintiff’s obesity, prolonged bed rest, and large fibroid tumor placed her at an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Despite this increased risk, only SCDs were provided and they were not consistently used during Plaintiff’s time in the hospital. Plaintiff developed a saddle pulmonary embolism, approximately 36 hours after delivery. Plaintiff died leaving a husband and minor daughter. Co-Counsel with Larry Rogers, Jr.