VERDICT $1,700,000 2018 Anesthesiologist Negligence
Medical Malpractice - during bilateral hip replacement surgery at a Rockford hospital, an orthopedic surgeon placed a retractor which tore an artery resulting in internal bleeding not visible to him. The anesthesiologist recognized the signs and symptoms of significant blood loss. Unfortunately, he never adequately communicated his concerns to the surgeon who left the operating room and hospital. After several hours of ineffective treatment by the anesthesiologist, the nurses called hospital supervisors to take control of the patient and transferred her to the Intensive Care Unit. There the injury was diagnosed and the orthopedic surgeon and a vascular surgeon called to the hospital to perform emergent surgery. The 67 year old woman died two weeks later due to complications from the prolonged bleeding. The 12 jurors unanimously agreed that Dr. Rao J. Gondi and his employer, Rockford Anesthesiologists Associated in Loves Park, IL, were guilty of medical malpractice and negligent for the delay in diagnosis and treatment. Gondi and Rockford Anesthesiologists were held financially responsible for the unnecessary death and emotional loss to the patient's husband and children. The hospital previously settled the negligence claims made against it.
SETTLED $1,600,000 2018 Delay in Diagnosis Breast Cancer
Medical Malpractice - a family practice physician was shown a skin retraction under the breast of her 62 year old patient. An ultrasound was performed of the wrong area and inaccurate information was provided to the breast surgeron who performed a biopsy of the wrong area. The surgeon was also alleged to have failed to obtain a history from the patient and was negligent for failing to perform a proper breast exam. The lesion continued to be present for two years before another physician made the diagnosis and began treatment. The case was settled with equal payments by the family doctor and the breast surgeon before the wife and mother died from her cancer.
VERDICT $2,500,000 2019 OSF Healthcare Hospital Negligence
Medical Malpractice - A Peoria jury awarded $2.5 million to the husband and sons of a woman who died after her heart and blood vessels were perforated during a laser lead extraction procedure at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. The case alleged that the Hospital rushed a new surgical program and procedure to take advantage of the growing business of removing pacemaker leads by granting a clinical privilege to an inexperienced physician and permitting him to organize, implement, and manage the new program. As a result, the cardiovascular surgeon and staff were poorly prepared to immediately respond to the bleeding caused by the injury to the heart and blood vessels. The unanimous verdict by twelve jurors from Peoria County shows that good and decent people will follow the law and hold companies and hospitals responsible for harm and medical malpractice.
SETTLED $3,150,000 2017 Surgeon Negligence
Medical Malpractice - A surgeon performed abdominal surgery through a laparoscopic incision and injured the patient's intestine. He failed to recognize and promptly repair the injured bowel which permitted bowel contents to leak and contaminate the abdomen. The patient was urgently transferred from the small Central Illinois Hospital to Carle Foundation Hospital and ultimately was treated at Rush University Medical Center. The husband and father of two died in Chicago from complications caused by the surgical negligence causing the perforated bowel and the delay in diagnosing and treating the complication.
SETTLED $1,350,000
Medical Malpractice - Doctor performed unnecessary surgery to remove total thyroid gland and caused damage to both recurrent laryngeal nerves and all four parathyroid glands causing bilateral vocal cord paralysis and hypocalcemia. The young woman required a tracheotomy to be able to breath. After a year, she underwent a laser cordotomy to increase her airway. She had difficulty breathing, had respiratory distress, suffered brain injury leading to a coma and death. Both the Survival Act claim and Wrongful Death Act claim were settled for the benefit of her mother, father, and sister.
SETTLED $1,800,000
Medical Malpractice - Doctor improperly treated patient for colitis with excessive steroids causing bilateral avascular necrosis requiring both hips to be replaced.
SETTLED $1,000,000
Medical Malpractice - Young woman suffering from sleep apnea and seizures was not properly monitored in hospital and overmedicated resulting in respiratory arrest and death.
SETTLED $3,100,000
Medical Malpractice - Gastroenterologist failed to obtain a complete history and failed to perform a complete colonoscopy causing a delay in diagnosis of colon cancer resulting in death.
VERDICT $2,043,000
Medical Malpractice - Internist and Pulmonologist misdiagnosed chronic cough of patient and gave unnecessary and excessive steroids resulting in bilateral avascular necrosis requiring both hips to be replaced.
VERDICT $1,550,000
Medical Malpractice - Chicago Bears running back sued the Chicago Bears' team physician for failing to re-evaluate him for signs and symptoms of post concussion syndrome and for not warning him of the danger of returning to play prior to recovering completely. Player returned to practice and games one week after suffering a Grade II concussion and suffered a career ending concussion with permanent brain function injury.
SETTLED $1,600,000
Medical Malpractice - Disabled obese woman received knee replacement. Fell while being transferred from bed with inadequate nursing assistance resulting in disruption of knee and surgical wound. It became infected ultimately requiring amputation of leg.
SETTLED $600,000
Medical Malpractice - Plaintiff suffered dislocated jaw while in the hospital and doctor refused to come to hospital to diagnose and treat the condition resulting in temporal mandibular joint dysfunction.
SETTLED $965,000
Medical Malpractice - Plaintiff underwent unnecessary surgery on pituitary gland and developed chronic cerebral spinal fluid leak and hormonal imbalances due to removal of normal gland tissue.
SETTLED $500,000
Medical Malpractice - Plaintiff brought by wife to doctor's office complaining of epigastric pain with radiation into shoulders and arms was misdiagnosed with recurrent peptic ulcer and sent home. Turned out it was a heart attack and patient died the next day.
SETTLED $3,100,000
Product Liability - Manufacturer of toner mixing machine and the control system failed to provide adequate control panel and safety devices resulting in mixer being turned on while worker inside cleaning it. He died following emergency surgery to treat his amputated arm, leg, and other injuries.
SETTLED Confidential
Product Liability - Electrical worker reaching for coil of "fish tape" when it suddenly fractured and broke resulting in pieces entering the eye causing partial blindness; material was corroded due to improper use of materials and excessive coiling resulting in design for failure, instead of for safety.
SETTLED $1,950,000
Product Liability - Factory worker operating molding machine had hand crushed in press which occurred due to inadequate guarding and safety devices.
ARBITRATION $1,030,000
Automobile Collision - College student was passenger in car struck head on by drunk driver. Million dollars was available through underinsured policy and awarded for the wrongful death following an arbitration proceeding.
SETTLED $2,650,000
Truck Crash - Truck driver negligently attempted U-turn through the median despite sign prohibiting U-turn in an attempt to avoid construction ahead. Husband, wife, and son in their automobile were unable to avoid collision and each suffered multiple fractures and injuries.
$100,000 SETTLEMENT
PEDESTRIAN walking across the street in the crosswalk was struck by a car driving around a bus causing leg and hand fractures.
