Medical Malpractice

Med malpractice claimed after finger surgery results in later amputation. Defense. Riverside County.

Hand surgeon and ER physician claimed to be negligent after unsuccessful surgery leads to finger amputation.

Case Name: Deborah Hill, Rocky Hill v. Temecula Valley Hospital, Sharp Memorial Hospital, James Jee-Ling Chao, M.D., Gabriella Minera, D.O., Heather Crooks Bruner, M.D.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, August 24, 2018
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

Brain damage results from bleeding during heart surgery, leaves patient in vegetative state. $68M. Fresno County.

Cardiothoracic surgeon said to leave surgery before it is completed. Patient begins to bleed profusely and there is no qualified surgeon available.

Case Name: Cristobal Arteaga, individually; Maria A. Arteaga Alvarez, individually; and Cristobal Arteaga, as Guardian ad Litem of Silvino Perez v. Fresno Community Regional Medical Center; Pervaiz A. Chaudhry, M.D.; Valley Cardiac Surgery Medical Group; and Does On
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

Med mal: Patient dies after Brazilian Butt Lift procedure. Defense. Los Angeles County.

It becomes a battle of medical experts when patient dies after cosmetic surgery. Defendant doctor refuses consent to settlement.

Case Name: Leon v. Plastic Surgeon, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, March 06, 2018
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

Hospital staff neglects to consider child abuse when infant is brought to ER. $8.4M. Amador County.

Hospital's medical staff training on child abuse reporting laws at issue.

Case Name: Cree Miller v. Sutter Sacramento Sierra Region, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice, Negligence

Podiatric surgery and post-surgical care called negligent. Defense verdict. Sacramento County.

Patient says podiatrist didn't respond to symptoms of DVT after negligent surgery.

Case Name: Aaron Hiatt v. Roy Rubin, M.D., Inc. and Phong Le, DPM
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

Student misses out on law school and Olympic dream due to botched gallstone surgery. $7.6 million. Los Angeles County.

Abdominal surgery for gallstones goes awry on college athlete intent on becoming a lawyer.

Case Name: Licudine v. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

HMO provider group of physicians does not provide timely hand surgery. $7.2M. Los Angeles County.

Following a bad hand injury, plaintiff receives referral after referral through his HMO, but no timely surgery.

Case Name: Terry J. LaRue v. Health Net of California, Inc.; Accountable Health Care IPA, A Professional Medical Corporation; Roe physician, and Does 1 through 100, inclusive
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, May 04, 2017
Type of Case: Breach of Contract, Insurance – Bad Faith, Claims Handling, Medical Malpractice

Aspiration warnings for 73-year-old hospital patient ignored by staff. $1.7M. Los Angeles County.

Medical negligence by nursing staff is blamed for death when patient aspirates food in rehab program after neck surgery.

Case Name: Higgins v. Providence Health System – Southern California dba Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, April 14, 2017
Type of Case: Elder Abuse, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death

Doctor shoots Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) into patient's eye, causing permanent damage. $213K. San Luis Obispo County.

Patient's left eye is damaged during elective Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) procedure.

Case Name: Joanna Anderson and Chris L. Anderson v. Joseph Douglas Bettencourt, M.D., and DOE 1-25
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, December 05, 2016
Type of Case: Loss of Consortium, Medical Malpractice

Subdural hematoma w/craniotomy results in malpractice claim against Coumadin Clinic. Defense. San Diego County.

Long-term Coumadin patient says Scripps Coumadin Clinic was negligent in their monitoring of her, resulting in a subdural hematoma and a craniotomy.

Case Name: Leeann Standlee, et al. v. Scripps Clinic Medical Group, Inc.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, August 03, 2016
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

Office worker sprains ankle, says care by Kaiser was negligent. Defense verdict. San Diego County.

Plaintiff develops pulmonary embolism after being treated for ankle sprain, calls medical care negligent.

Case Name: Elizabeth Urquhart v. Southern California Permanente Medical Group, et. al
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, August 02, 2016
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

Cancer patient left incontinent, impotent after radical prostatectomy, blames surgeon. Defense. Los Angeles County.

68-year-old with advanced prostate cancer says no informed consent to non-nerve-sparing radical prostatetomy that leaves him incontinent and impotent. Complications during and following surgery.

Case Name: John Doe v. Roe M.D.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, April 08, 2016
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

Nerve surgery goes beyond consent of patient. $1 million. Orange County.

After a piriformis release surgery (left buttocks), plaintiff claims doctor performed an unconsented to and unnecessary second procedure on her left lower leg; claims medical negligence, battery and fraud.

Case Name: Nadine Froesch v. Israel P. Chambi, M.D., et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, February 03, 2016
Type of Case: Fraud, Medical Malpractice

Case Name: I.P. v. United States of America
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, October 29, 2015
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

Surgical patient says hospital failed to give pathology report to her doctors. $1.7 million before MICRA. Orange County.

Back surgery patient says hospital's failure to notify her doctor of infection resulted in greater harm to her.

Case Name: Christine Auble v. Chapman Medical Center
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, July 10, 2015
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice

Mother developing pneumonia calls Kaiser nurse advice line, is not seen by docs until it is too late. $2.74 million award. Alameda County.

Mother of two young children develops pneumonia-like symptoms and repeatedly calls Kaiser's nurse advice line. She is not seen by doctors until it is too late. Wrongful death due to medical negligence.

Case Name: Doe v. Kaiser
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, May 22, 2015
Type of Case: Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death