Recent Verdicts and Settlements (Continued from page 35)


a notation that “ABC’s are not intact.” Be- cause Jane Doe exhibited symptoms which indicated that she was in shock, she was placed in a reverse Trendelenburg position. Jane Doe was clearly an unstable patient who needed to have fluids rapidly infused. Unfortunately, fluids were not infused un- til seven and a half hours later. After triage was completed at approxi- mately 9:00 p.m., nothing further was done to Jane Doe for nearly five and a half hours. At 2:25 a.m., the vitals were again checked, and they remained abnormal; blood pres- sure was 92/63, pulse was 106, and temperature was 94.3. At 2:46 a.m., Jane Doe received 2 mg. of morphine IM. At 2:50 a.m., a resident started inserting a femoral line, and at 3:15 a.m., morphine was administered through the line. Nothing further was done until 4:00 a.m., when Jane Doe was unresponsive. At this time, a decision was finally made to start fluids through two lines, while Jane Doe was being intubated. At 4:45 a.m., chest compression was in progress. At 5:35 a.m., bagging was in progress. Belatedly, at 7:00 a.m., fluids were run wide open and she was admitted to the medical intensive care unit. Unfortu- nately, her pupils at this time were also fixed and dilated. She was pronounced


dead the following day. Autopsy stated that Jane Doe died of hypertensive car- diovascular disease.


Allegations of Liability: Failure to ap- propriately and timely treat hypotensive patient in emergency room.


Injuries / Damages: Jane Doe was sur- vived by her mother and nine-year-old daughter.


Plaintiff ’s Witnesses: Timothy Bessent, M.D. (Emergency Room Medicine)


Verdict/Settlement: The case was settled for $600,000.


Plaintiff ’s Counsel: David F. Albright, Jr. (MTLA Member) Horn & Bennett, P.A., Baltimore, MD.


________


Johns v. Sibley Hospital Superior Court for the District of Columbia No. 983387


Facts: This is a medical malpractice case brought by the Plaintiff when he was in- jured during and attempted catheterization when the balloon on the catheter was inflated prior to the catheter entering into the bladder and then was withdrawn from his penis causing him


permanent injury, which manifests itself in a urinary incontinence and some sexual dysfunction, which is permanent in na- ture. After the catheter was withdrawn, the Plaintiff was bleeding from his penis for approximately 45 minutes while em- ployees of the hospital used ice and pressure to stop the bleeding. He was catheterized by a urologist after 2 attempts by a house officer to catheterize him failed.


Allegations of Liability: Defendant con- tended that he had a previous problem that was the cause of his condition and that was unrelated to anything the De- fendant has done.


Plaintiff ’s Witnesses: Mryon Murdock (Urologist); Nabil Khawand (Urologist); Bronson Levin, Ph.D.; Frank Schneider, R.N.


Defense Witnesses: Jeffrey Jacobsen, M.D. (Neurosurgeon); James Regan, M.D. (Urologist); Frederick J. Frensilli, M.D. (Urologist); John W. Cochran, M.D. (Neurologist); Cheryl Clark, R.N.; Chester W. Schmidt, M.D., (Psychiatrist)


Verdict/Settlement: Jury verdict in the amount of $1.9 million.


Plaintiff ’s Counsel: Andrew E. Greenwald, Joseph, Greenwald & Laake (MTLA Member) Greenbelt, MD; An- thony Newman, Law Office of Anthony J. Newman (MTLA Member) Bethesda, MD


Defense Counsel: Gary Brown, Fairfax, VA; Eric Berghold, Fairfax, VA


Vehicular Negligence


Patterson v. Jackson & Allstate Circuit Court for Prince George’s County No. CAL00-12199


Facts: Plaintiff was on a motorcycle and was struck by an uninsured motorist (Jackson).


Plaintiff was a police officer in Prince George’s County.


Allegations of Liability: Defendant Jack- son took right of way from Plaintiff Patterson.


Jackson was uninsured and


Allstate was UM carrier for Plaintiff ($50,000 policy).


Injuries and Damages: Fracture of cuboid bone in left foot; laceration to arm. No surgery required. $440 wage loss.


$2,990 medical bills; 36 Trial Reporter Fall 2001


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