Global settlement for a construction accident related to a recently constructed deck that pulled away from a home, collapsed, killed one person and injured other guests

Settlement (based on $1.5 million in damages) for trucking negligence after a woman was killed by inattentive driving by the operator of a wheat truck

Verdict for premises liability when a customer brushed against an improperly fastened glass shelf at a department store causing it to fall and strike the foot of a customer resulting in tarsal tunnel syndrome

Settlement for a construction accident related to the negligent operation of a crane and improper rigging that caused permanent injury to a leg and foot

Settlement for nursing home negligence in which a nursing home aide caused bi- lateral hip fractures when transferring a resident from a wheelchair to a whirlpool bath, which resulted in hospitalization followed by death

Settlement for hospital/radiology/family practice negligence when a hospital’s defective call light system lead to a patient fall and hip fracture. A radiologist and family practice physician missed the fracture. A delay led to avascular necrosis and a hip replacement.

Settlement for motor vehicle negligence when a man suffered a herniated disc as a result of a negligent driver running a stop sign

Settlement for premises liability when a customer who had stopped at local co-op store to have their tires changed walked across the shop floor, stepped onto a mechanic creeper and feel, injuring their knee and requiring surgery

(Based on $23 million in damages) for hospital/obstetrical negligence when a prolapsed cord occurred and a delay in a C-section resulted in profound brain injury

(Based on $22 million in damages) for hospital/obstetrical negligence when there was a delay in the emergency C-section, signs of fetal distress and then a profound hypoxic brain injury

(Based on $22 million in damages) for hospital and nursing negligence when nursing negligence, understaffing and the failure to implement policy changes recommended by JCAHO involving ventilators left a working mother of two in a persistent vegetative state

(Based on $20 million in damages) for medication error/hospital, nursing and pharmacy negligence when a medication error resulted in severe hypoxic brain damage of a newborn twin

(Based on $20 million in damages) for obstetrical negligence when there was fetal distress caused by external cephalic version and a failure to perform a C-section that resulted in profound hypoxic brain injury

(Based on $20 million in damages) for obstetrical/family practice negligence when the failure to diagnose placental abruption by a medical resident, faculty supervisor and obstetrician as part of a collaborative family practice program led to profound hypoxic brain injury

(Based on $16 million in damages) for physician negligence when a family practice doctor delivered a baby in a rural hospital and missed a diagnosis following the baby vomiting large amounts of green demises due to a twisted bowel

• The doctor refused to transport the baby to a tertiary hospital until it was almost dead, even though the rural hospital lacked a ventilator for pediatric patients.
• Upon arrival, the baby was diagnosed and emergency surgery completed.
• Sixty percent of the bowel was necrotic and removed.
• The baby had multiple surfers but ultimately died secondary to complications following the settlement of the suit.

(Based on $16 million in damages) for surgery followed by permanent disability

• The patient experienced abdominal pain and saw a surgeon.
• The surgeon performed gall bladder removal even though all testing was negative, and the pathology showed no problem with the gallbladder.
• The surgeon improperly clipped the bile duct leading to the leaking of bile and severe complications resulting in permanent disability.

(Based on $15 million in damages) for pediatric neurology negligence when there a was failure to diagnose a brain tumor and provide the proper treatments, which resulted in hydrocephalus and permanent brain injury in a teenager

(Based on $15 million in damages) for family practice/emergency medicine negligence when failure to diagnose sub-arachnoid hemorrhage resulted in quadriplegia

(Based on $12 million in damages) for obstetrical negligence when excessive use of vacuum extraction and failure to perform a timely C-section resulted in severe hypoxic brain damage

(Based on $12 million in damages) for Emergency Room (ER) and hospitalist negligence when there was a delay in diagnosing a spinal hematoma as the cause of back pain resulting in eventual death

• The patient experienced back pain secondary to a spontaneous spinal hematoma, causing pressure on the spinal cord.
• The Emergency Room (ER) doctor failed to schedule an MRI to investigate the possibility of spinal hematoma.
• The patient had worsening back pain and returned.
• A second Emergency Room (ER) doctor failed to order an MRI but admitted the patient under the care of a hospitalist. The hospitalist worked up cardiac as opposed to back pain.
• Two days later, the patient’s legs were paralyzed due to the delay in diagnosing spinal hematoma as the cause of the back pain. The patient developed decubitus ulcers that are uncontrollable while in rehab and was sent to a burn unit out of state.
• The patient remained hospitalized for more than a year and was sent home to die because nothing more could be done. The patient died following the settlement of the suit.

(Based on $10 million in damages) for family practice negligence when there was a failure to diagnose and treat a rare kidney virus the led to the loss of both kidneys, prolonged dialysis and a kidney transplant

(Based on $10 million in damages) for physician and nursing negligence when there was a failure to diagnose and intervene in a timely manner, which caused paralysis of the legs and complications

• An elderly patient was hospitalized for dehydration and back pain following a fall at home.
• The hospitalist failed to work up the cause of the back pain, and the nurses failed to timely report the onset of leg paralysis.
• The patient had a blood pocket from the fall that was compressing the spinal cord. Failure to timely diagnose and intervene led to paralysis of the legs and complications.

(Based on $10 million in damages) for radiology negligence when there was a failure to properly interpret an x-ray finding of subluxation of spinal vertebra caused cord injury and permanent paralysis

(Based on $4 million in damages) for defective product and installation when a cleaning crew was seriously hurt

• An elevator at a beef packing plant was improperly designed and installed.
• A cleaning crew entered the elevator, and it free fell 25 feet to a concrete pad.
• The cleaning crew was seriously hurt including amputations, fractures and extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation.

(Based on $3.2 million in damages) for family practice negligence when failure to diagnose and treat pulmonary embolism following a gall bladder surgery resulted in the death of a working pregnant mother with three children

(Based on $3 million in damages) for surgical negligence when failure to diagnose and timely operate on a post-operative spinal hematoma led to the permanent loss of bowel and bladder control and leg paralysis

(Based on $3 million in damages) for failure to diagnose Mesenteric Ischemia

• The patient was hospitalized for dissecting aortic aneurysm.
• During the hospitalization, the patient developed severe abdominal pain.
• An endovascular surgeon consulted and performed diagnostic aortogram. The procedure was not properly performed, and progressing mesenteric ischemia was missed.
• The patient had emergency surgery to save the bowel, but 50 percent of the bowel was lost due to the delay. The patient is now work disabled.

(Based on $2.5 million in damages) for a construction accident when there was a failure to inspect reaving on a crane resulting in the collapse of the boom crane, severance of a worker’s arm and death

(Based on $2.2 million in damages) for psychiatric hospital negligence when there was a failure to properly assess and monitor a patient admitted to the hospital following a suicide attempt and the patient committed suicide in their room

(Based on $2 million in damages) for family practice negligence when there was a failure to diagnose malignant melanoma resulting in the fatal spread of cancer and reduced life expectancy

(Based on $1.75 million in damages) for medication error/ pharmacy negligence when a prescription filled in error led to a toxic overdose, brain damage and death

(Based on $1.75 million in damages) for surgical negligence when failure to diagnose and treat post-operative bleed following a colon resection led to death

(Based on $1.6 million in damages) for a construction accident and defective product design when a worker guiding a paving machine was run over by a wheel of the machine due to poor design and lost their lower leg

(Based on $1.5 million in damages) for nursing and hospital negligence when a patient’s airway closes and dies

• The patient underwent a throat procedure for sleep apnea.
• They were released the next day but returned with shortness of breath and an inability to swallow. The patient was admitted to a regular floor.
• Oxygen saturation suddenly fell, and nurses failed to report the change to a physician.
• The patient’s airway closed and is found dead by a nurse the next morning.

(Based on $1.5 million in damages) for family practice/radiology/ physician assistant negligence when the failure to diagnose a dissecting aortic aneurysm by a physicians assistant, radiologist and family practice physician led to death

(Based on $1.5 million in damages) for nursing negligence and eCare system negligence when a patient had a cardiac arrest and died

• A patient was admitted for various ailments.
• The patient was monitored by hospital nursing staff and a remote care facility using the eCare system.
• When the patient’s blood pressure trended down, there was no intervention by anyone. Their blood pressure fell to critical levels; the patient coded and died.

(Based on $1 million in damages) for hospital nursing negligence when a right-hand artery and blood flow was destroyed

• A college student visited an Emergency Room (ER) with severe headaches.
• A nurse improperly started an IV in an artery in their right hand and administered caustic medication for nausea.
• The artery and blood flow to the patient’s fingers were destroyed.

(Based on $1 million in damages) for orthopedic negligence when there was permanent injury to a patient’s hand

• A patient fell and fractured their arm. An Emergency Room (ER) doctor called in an orthopedic surgeon for the repair.
• The doctor failed to use a protective device while drilling free-hand into the bone to place screws in the rod. The drill bit caught and severed the radial nerve.
• Nerve grafts were done in an attempt to repair the damage, but there was permanent injury to the hand, restricting a firm grip and partial use of the fingers.