(2019) Medical Malpractice: 39-year-old female was visiting a family member at defendant hospital. As she was walking near a water fountain in the hospital hallway, she slipped and fell in a puddle of water. She was transported to the emergency department and it was determined that her knee had dislocated and that she lacked pulses in that leg. After vascular surgeon consultation, Plaintiff was transported to the intensive care unit instead of the operating room. Plaintiff was later brought to the OR after several hours. According to Plaintiff’s experts, the delay in care and treatment (fall to incision was 6 hours) resulted in inadequate blood flow which led to her above-the-knee amputation as her popliteal artery had been severed by her fall. Co-counsel with Thomas M. Power.

Multiple fractures, traumatic brain injury, and significant scarring suffered by a passenger when a church van was struck by an 18-wheeler that crossed the median on I-75 in Florida.

The plaintiff-decedents, a married couple, were driving a used car when a tire blew out, causing the car to flip over. The accident occurred due to manufacturing defects in the car’s tires and also due to the negligence of the car dealer who sold the vehicle with worn tires. Both the husband and wife died as a result of the accident, leaving two minor children.

D. v. Loyola University of Chicago, etc.

On August 29, 1996, The Plaintiffs were visiting their daughter in Lyle, Illinois when D. began complaining to severe back pain. An ambulance was called and he was transported to Edwards Hospital in Naperville, Illinois. After an initial diagnosis of descending aortic aneurysm with dissection, D. was transferred to Loyola University Medical Center on August 30th. During this hospitalization, D. was further evaluated and scheduled for cardiac surgery. On September 3rd, while hospitalized and awaiting surgery, D. experienced cardiac arrest and an anoxic episode that rendered him comatose. As a result of not being properly monitored while on Propofol. He is now 68 years old, lives with his wife, but suffers from permanent brain damage.

S vs. University of Chicago

Plaintiff’s Decedent was diagnosed with breast cancer. During a biopsy of her breast she experienced an anaphylaxis attack according to the defense and medical examiner or a pulmonary embolus according to plaintiff. The plaintiff further alleged a DVT or pulmonary embolus was never ruled out.

During the hospitalization she was placed on Heparin prophylaxis which was later discontinued because of a suspected adverse reaction (HIT) without ordering an alternative anticoagulant. She experienced a fatal pulmonary embolus two days later.

She was a school teacher who left surviving a husband and daughter.

JURY VERDICT: $7,250,000.00

Last Offer: $2,000,000.00

G. v. Skokie Valley Community Hospital

After sustaining numerous injuries in a motorcycle accident, including a C-2 “hangman’s” fracture and bruising of his spinal cord, student ended up paralyzed as a result of the failure to adequately replace his blood lost in the accident and appropriately intubate him.

Affirmed on Appeal 91-1742, 269 Ill.App.3d 37, 645 N.E.2d 319 (1994)

Jury Verdict: $7,012,000.00

T. v. SHAW SUBURBAN MEDIA GROUP, INC., etc., et al.

This case involved the trial of a defamation case on behalf of an Illinois Supreme Court Justice. This is the highest defamation verdict and the highest subsequent settlement for a judge in the United States history.

K. v. Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation

On April 27, 2004, K., a 57-year-old medical malpractice defense lawyer with the law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson, underwent a stress test at an office location near his home. The stress test was ordered by his internist at Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation. The stress test results were faxed and mailed to the Faculty Foundation. However, the test results were not reviewed due to an administrative error and K. was never advised that the results were abnormal and required cardiac catheterization. He experienced sudden cardiac death on August 9, 2004.

Verdict as lead trial counsel on behalf of the wife and children of a 49-year-old man who died as a result of the negligent failure to review his known and documented medical history of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. That negligence resulted in the patient not receiving life-saving anti-coagulants resulting in the gentleman developing a new onset of deep vein thrombosis, experiencing a pulmonary embolism and dying two days later. (2007)

Defense: Denied that standard of care required anticoagulants, denied that patient was at risk of suffering a pulmonary embolism, denied that prescribing anti-coagulants would have made a difference and, and denied degree of loss to family.

VERDICT: $7 Million

Settlement Demand: $3 Million

Settlement Offer: $1.2 Million

Plaintiff was born at 25.5 weeks. At 11 days of life, plaintiff contracted three blood borne infections. Plaintiff deteriorated and ultimately suffered a hypoxic event as a result of the infection. Plaintiff developed periventricular leukomalacia or PVL. Plaintiff alleged that the defendants were negligent in performing the hygiene and sanitary procedures in the NICU unit which led to plaintiff’s infection. Plaintiff further alleged that the defendant Dr. Siddiqui, a neonatologist, and the nursing staff failed to respond timely to identify and treat the infections. Plaintiff alleged that the cause of plaintiff’s PVL was the hypoxic event arising from the infection and not the plaintiff’s prematurity. Plaintiff has been diagnosed with permanent brain damage and requires 24 hour care. Plaintiff’s medical bills to date exceed $1,000,000.00. Defendant contended that the risk of infection is common in neonates, that the PVL was caused by the plaintiff’s prematurity of 25.5 weeks and not the infection and that the plaintiff has a substantially reduced life expectancy.