Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Results in a $2.85 Million Award
On April 17, 2004, Randy Green’s life changed forever. That was the day he suffered extreme, life threatening injuries in a car accident. Emergency responders transported Green to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach for treatment. Even though Green was being prepped for surgery to repair arterial lacerations on his forearm, the orthopedic surgeon on duty, Wayne Bauerle, insisted that a CAT scan be taken of Green’s knee which was also injured. It took 30 minutes to complete the scan, during which time, Green suffered such an extreme loss of blood, he went into cardiac and respiratory arrest, both of which were caused by the arm injury.
Although the staff resuscitated Green, as a result of the blood and oxygen loss, part of Green’s spinal cord died, leaving him a paraplegic.
Medical records indicate that when Green was placed into the CAT scan, his blood pressure was 72 over 56. The plaintiff used testimony from doctors multiple medical institutions, including Harvard Medical School, to confirm that this is a critically low blood pressure level and that based on those numbers, Bauerle should have realized that Green was in danger of going into cardiac arrest.
Medical records indicate that after going into cardia arrest, Green’s blood pressure dropped to zero and it’s believed that some parts of his body were denied oxygenated blood from 8-27 minutes.
The jury who heard Green’s case learned that not only has his life been changed forever, so has the life of his wife, Ann, who has taken over as her husband’s sole caregiver. The jury agreed to award Green $2.3 million in the medical malpractice lawsuit. They also said that his wife was to be awarded $550,000 which will be used to make up for the couple’s loss of income, medical bills, and other financial hardships they’ve suffered as a result of the accident.
Grand Strand Medical Center also agreed to an out of court settlement, the amount of which has not been disclosed.
“Even though I hope a day comes when I never hear about another medical malpractice case, cases like this, where the victim gets the compensation they deserve, make me proud to be a personal injury lawyer,” said Joseph Sandefur of joeandmartin.com/myrtle-beach/, managing partner of a top personal injury firm with an office headquartered in Myrtle Beach. 
“I hope that other people choose to follow the example the Greens have set and take action when a medical mistake is made. It’s the best way I know of to remind medical professionals and facilities that they have an obligation to provide the best possible health care.”
If you believe that you have been the victim of medical malpractice, the best thing you can do for yourself is gather up all of your medical records and bills and contact an attorney. They will review all the details of your case and then help you choose the best legal path to take.
Defense Attorney Prepares to Use Stand Your Ground Defense for Man Accused of Barroom Stabbing Death
The only thing worse than hearing that someone’s fun night out ended in a bar fight, is learning that the bar fight didn’t end until one of the brawlers was stabbed to death.
In this particular case, the guy who walked away from the fight swears he only used his knife in self-defense. When police were arrived on the scene they sized up the situation and arrested Miguel Herrera Guevarra. Once he reached the South Carolina jail, he was charged with second degree murder. Under most circumstances, a second degree murder charge is serious enough that bail is denied and the defendant will have to remain in custody until and throughout their trial.
Guevarra isn’t about to accept staying in jail for what could add up to several months of his life, not when he swears he only stabbed the victim out of self-defense and that the bar’s video surveillance cameras will back up his claim.
His friend, Yeslina Ramos, agrees. “Whatever anybody says, the video speaks for itself.”
Even without the video, his friends, families, and witnesses to the fight agree that Guevarra acted out of self-defense and that he shouldn’t be forced to remain and potentially lose everything for something that isn’t his fault.
The good news is that after watching the video, the judge agrees with Guevarra.
“The judge agreed there wasn’t a reason to hold him on the charges so he was able to set bond in that regard,” said Phillip Reizenstein, the attorney who is representing Guevarra. “
“The parties have reached a mutually agreeable, confidential settlement in this matter. We extend our sympathies to victim and wish her well,” .
For a long period of time, [Hernandez] is acting erratically and violent to multiple individuals in the bar. This becomes important because my client sees this so he knows what he’s dealing with.”
Reizenstein is quite pleased that the judge agreed that the contents of the surveillance video convinced the judge to release his client and is already working on a defense strategy for the upcoming trial. “We’re going to move a little quicker. We’re going to file a stand-your-ground community motion and that will be done by the end of August and we expect a hearing date in September.”
‘I’m very pleased that not only was the video surveillance working when the bar fight took place,” personal injury attorney, Joe and Martin of The Personal Injury Firm said when he learned about this case. “It’s a good thing that the defendant had the foresight to mention the camera right away so that the footage could be rescued before it was deleted or became lost.”
This case does an excellent job of showcasing why it’s so important to contact a lawyer right away when you feel you have grounds for a personal injury civil suit. Your attorney will know exactly what pieces of evidence can be used to help you gain the largest possible settlement. They will also work to collect witness statements while the memories of the episode remains fresh in everyone’s mind.
If you have been hurt as the result of someone else and would like to discuss your legal options, feel free to contact us.
California Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Ends in a $44 Million Jury Awarded Verdict
After a long legal battle, Andrea Tate will receive a $44 million award as a result of medical malpractice. Tate experienced a brain hemorrhage while receiving treatment at the hospital. Despite attempts on both sides to settle the matter out of court, the case eventually made its way before a jury. After hearing all the details of the case and listening to witness testimony, the jury ruled that the hospital was 65% liable for Tate’s situation and that the doctor who treated her was 35% liable. The trial took place over 13 days and the jury deliberated for 7 hours before returning to the court room with their verdict.
Andrea Tate was in the hospital receiving treatment for benign brain tumor when she developed a strong reaction to Heparin, the anticoagulant the medical team was treating her with. As a result of the reaction, Tate suffered severe brain damage that has left her paralyzed. Although Tate and her lawyer are pleased with the jury’s decision, the University hospital isn’t. They warned that they plan to appeal the verdict when they issued a formal statement about the case. “We are disappointed in today’s verdict and continue to believe that appropriate care was provided. We plan to appeal this unfortunate decision.”
The case, Tate v. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, is significant because it represents one of the highest medical malpractice verdicts in the state. The state’s largest verdict the previous year was a $22 million verdict that was issued to the plaintiff in a Delaware County medical malpractice case. In 2014, the biggest Pennsylvania medical malpractice verdict was Lehigh County verdict of $55 million award.
Robert Ross handled the case for the plaintiff. It’s his belief that had the staff tasked with caring for Tate been paying closer attention, they would have noticed that the way she reacted to the Heparin and realized she was at a high risk for a brain hemorrhage and been able to take the steps needed to minimize the damage. Tests taken following Tate’s surgery indicated that Tate’s coagulation rapidly went from low to dangerously high.
“Instead of stopping the heparin at that point, here’s what they did, they just stopped testing,” Ross said. “Three days later, they find her virtually comatose. She had a massive bleed in her head.”
Dr. Maureen McCunn who was caring for Tate at the time, felt that the dosage was correct. In a pretrial memo, the doctor argued that the hemorrhage was in fact caused by the surgery and not the Heparian Tate was administered.
birth injury attorney Drew Warren wasn’t involved in the Tate v. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania case but he is pleased by the results. “It appears to me that juries are beginning to fully understand the nature of medical malpractice cases and are determined to make the medical facility take responsibility for their actions, something that should encourage members of the medical profession to be more diligent about monitoring and caring for their patients.”
Be Sure to Select the Best Possible Attorney When Pursuing a Levaquin Lawsuit
As of early February 2016, courts were dealing with more than 300 Levaquin lawsuits that named the drug as the reason the plaintiff developed peripheral neuropathy. In nearly all the cases, major pharmaceutical companies, Cipro and Avelox were named as the defendants with the plaintiff claiming the company wasn’t clear about the potentially severe side effects caused by the drug. The defendants felt that had they been better informed, they wouldn’t have used Levaquin as an antibiotic.
Since the FDA first approved Levaquin to be prescribed to patients, it has been used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including staph infections, E. coli, pneumonia, and salmonella. It wasn’t until recently that many people, both in and out of the medical community, began to realize just how severe the potential side effects could be. There have been reports of the antibiotic causing retinal detachment, tendon ruptures, and peripheral neuropathy. The severity of the side effects prompted the FDA to take a sterner stance on the drug’s labeling, which resulted in today’s labels that clearly indicate that the use of Levaquin could possibly trigger the rapid onset of peripheral neuropathy.
According to District of Minnesota court papers, approximately 360 lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs who firmly believe that they’ve suffered permanent nerve damage as a direct result of using Levaquin. They claim that had they been better informed about how much severe damage the drug could cause, they would have made a different treatment
If you feel that you’re currently dealing with health problems that stemmed from the use of Levaquin, you owe it to yourself to seek rx injury help and learn more about how the legal system can help you deal with the financial fallout of the side effects.
You should not try to pursue litigation without the help of an experienced attorney. During the initial consultation, the attorney will listen to your story and determine whether or not it’s in your best interest to pursue a Levaquin lawsuit. Your attorney will handle the enormous pile of paperwork connected to filing a Levaquin lawsuit and help you prepare for what will happen in the upcoming months.
You should use care when selecting an attorney to help with your Levaquin lawsuit. Don’t pick the first name you spy in the phone book. It’s in your best interest to do some research and make sure that the attorney has a great deal of experience handling prescription drug related cases and that they a winning record.
Keep in mind that the purpose of the initial consultation is as much for you to evaluate the attorney as it is for them to determine whether or not you have the grounds for a Levaquin lawsuit. Not only should you feel comfortable discussing the details of the case with the attorney, you should also get the impression that they’re genuinely concerned about you and your future and that they’ll give your lawsuit the time and care it deserves.
The best time to contact an attorney and arrange for a Levaquin lawsuit consultation is as soon as you suspect the drug is the cause of your current health problems.
College Football Player Out for the Season Due to Injuries in Car Crash
Sammy Ochoa was looking forward to a great year of football as the junior defensive tackle for Lake Travis. He was a preseason All-Central Texas Choice with a promising future, but now everything has changed. After a two-vehicle accident left Ochoa with serious injuries, doctors say that he will miss the rest of the football season.
The accident happened on Saturday when Ochoa’s 2010 Infiniti hydroplaned into an intersection and was hit on the passenger side by a 1997 pickup truck. Heavy rainstorms in the area had left roads slippery and Ochoa simply lost control of his vehicle. Both passengers involved in the accident were taken by ambulance to University Medical Center in Brackenridge. The other driver is in critical condition.
It was a tragic turn of events for Ochoa, who just one day prior helped lead his football team to a major victory over their biggest rival. As he recovers in the hospital, Ochoa told reporters that he is thankful to be alive and lucky that his seatbelt kept him from worse injuries. “It was wet on the road,” he recalled. “After I hydroplaned, I was about to get hit head-on and then I jerked the steering wheel real hard.”
The 17-year-old sustained a broken arm, a broken nose, two broken ribs, and a torn tendon in his right knee. He has already undergone surgery to repair his arm and knee, but the football player still has a long recovery ahead of him. Doctors estimate that Ochoa will spend six to eight weeks bound to a wheelchair and will be unable to return to the football field for the remainder of the season.
Ochoa told reporters that he is “heartbroken” to have to sit out the rest of the season. His team’s bid for their sixth state championship will be much more challenging without Ochoa on the field.
Car accidents are the number one cause of death in young people ages two to 34 in the United States. They are also one of the most common causes for personal injury among all ages. All drivers are at risk for accident related injuries and even those who drive with extreme caution could easily be involved in a serious or fatal accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there are approximately 6 million car crashes in the United States every year.
After an accident, your first reaction will be to focus on your physical healing and the condition of your car. However, a whole additional battle is waiting for you after the accident is over. There is ongoing stress from costly medical bills, car repairs, and difficult insurance companies. If you are injured in a crash, you might be unable to work leaving you with serious financial obligations and no way to handle them.
Tampa personal injury attorneys step in during these difficult moments to help people get on the path to recovery. A good personal injury attorney in Tampa will act as your advocate, insuring that you receive the help you need to rebuild your life and overcome the financial obstacles that result from a car accident. If you are facing recovery from a car accident, contact a Tampa personal injury attorney today.
Choosing the Right Tax Attorney
Dealing with the IRS can be a frustrating experience, there’s no need to add more anxiety trying to find the right tax attorney or tax relief law firm. Here are some tips to help you select a lawyer that can help you wade through IRS-speak and tax law.
First, an important note: A reputable tax attorney or tax relief firm will not require money up front or make exorbitant promises of cutting your tax bill up to 80% off. Also, they won’t contact you. If someone is calling saying you have an unpaid tax bill with the IRS and they can take care of it for you—chances are, it’s a scam. Unfortunately, these types of scams are becoming more common. The IRS will only contact you via mail. Any emails attempting to collect on behalf of the IRS can be disregarded.
Services
Many tax relief law firms and tax attorneys have websites that will detail their services. We recommend taking a look to learn what kind of services they provide. A good tax relief law firm should have a sizable support staff and a few tax attorneys on their payroll to ensure personal service and attention. Make sure any tax relief law firms you contact specialize in issues similar to yours, whether it be unpaid taxes, offshore holdings, or an audit.
Experience
A trustworthy tax relief law firm will be happy to tell you about their experiences with similar cases. Many offer free consultations that will allow you to discuss your case with a knowledgeable tax attorney and learn more about how they’ve dealt with similar cases.
Outcome
While this may be your first time dealing with the IRS, a good tax law attorney has been around the block. After you’ve discussed your case with them, they should be able to give you some idea about how they will handle your case and what they believe the realistic outcome will be. A good tax lawyer will honestly discuss your case with you.
Expenses
Don’t be afraid to ask what it will cost to engage a tax attorney’s services. You will be entering a legal contract and should now what is expected of you. Pay attention to how an attorney addresses this issue with you and don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you need it. This is your case, after all.
Communication
During your consultation, make sure to learn how your tax attorney will contact you moving forward. Will someone be calling you to inform you about progress in your case, or will you be receiving a letter? Will your lawyer be call you, or someone from his or her support staff? Ask questions so you can better know what to expect.
As you’re discussing your potential case with a tax law attorney, ask yourself:
Do I trust this person?
Do I feel comfortable talking to this tax lawyer?
Am I being listened to?
Will I be a priority at this tax relief firm?
Tax issues aren’t fun and choosing a trustworthy tax law attorney shouldn’t add to your troubles. Doing some research about the attorney or tax relief law firm beforehand can help prepare you to discuss your case and help you find the right firm. If you feel like a partner in the process and that your questions are being answered, great! Now you and your new tax attorney or tax relief law firm can start tackling your IRS issues together.
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