Surgeon prevails in suit for failure to handle gastric surgery – Defense Verdict
On Feb. 18, 2015, plaintiff’s decedent, a 28-year-old male with history of “slipped” laparoscopic gastric band presented to Inova Fairfax Hospital’s emergency department for symptoms consisted with band complications. The patient was worked up by the emergency department staff, had a surgery consult and had a work-up by bariatric surgery service. Despite efforts to deflate […]
Doctor prevails in shoulder dystocia case – Defense Verdict
During a delivery on May 16, 2003, the defendant, an obstetrician and gynecologist, encountered a shoulder dystocia. In response, the defendant performed various delivery maneuvers to safely deliver the plaintiff including the McRobert’s position, suprapubic pressure, Rubin’s, and delivery of the posterior arm. The plaintiff suffered a permanent brachial plexus injury at the C5-C7 nerve [&hell[...]
Trucker hurt by punch to face during gas-pump argument – $1.25 Million Verdict
Plaintiff was a 57-year-old who drove a tractor-trailer hauling logs. At about 4:50 a.m. on June 11, 2015, he pulled into Milby’s Oil in West Point to fill up his truck. Milby’s has two diesel pumps. He was the only person there, so he decided to use both pumps and fill both of his tanks […]
Back surgery leaves woman with weakness, paralysis – Defense Verdict
Plaintiff underwent an anterior cervical discectomy, osteophytectomy and arthrodesis C3-4, C4-5 and C5-6 using intervertebral disc spacers and an anterior cervical plates extending from C3-C4 to C5-6. After finishing at C3-4, the defendant neurosurgeon turned his attention to the C4-5 level and he placed an intervertebral disc spacer and an 8 mm spacer without difficulty. […]
Man died following elective surgery, no one could say why – Defense Verdict
Plaintiff, 64, underwent elective sigmoid colectomy surgery performed by a general surgeon on Feb. 23, 2015, to correct diverticula and a fistula track that had developed between his cecum and bladder causing frequent infections. The surgery was uneventful and an initial plan was to have the plaintiff go home three-four days later once normal bowel […]
Gynecologist was not negligent in performing hysterectomy – Defense Verdict
Annette Clements alleged that the defendant gynecologist negligently injured her right ureter during a laparoscopic hysterectomy on May 14, 2014. The patient had been diagnosed with symptomatic fibroids and an enlarged uterus and authorized the defendant gynecologist to surgically remove the uterus. Upon inspecting the patient’s pelvis with the laparoscope and seeing the multiple fibroids [&[...]
Implant reconstruction results in loss of breast – Defense Verdict
Marcie Laumann, age 46 and a lifelong diabetic, underwent bilateral mastectomy with implant reconstruction in August 2015 for breast cancer. Because of her diabetes and poorly controlled blood glucose, her breast wounds healed slowly. In fact, her right breast never completely healed over the fall of 2015. In October 2015, Laumann experienced numbness, tingling and […]
Woman hurt in fall sued on-call doctor – Defense Verdict
This lawsuit was brought by a patient who presented to the emergency department at Sentara Obici on April 28, 2013, after tripping and falling face first on brick stairs, without anything to brace her fall. A CT Scan was ordered in the emergency department demonstrating a severe orbital blowout fracture. The emergency medicine physician then […]
Baby stillborn due to placental abruption, doctor prevails – Defense Verdict
This lawsuit was brought by a patient who presented to the hospital in the early morning hours of Dec. 24, 2014. The patient was 33 weeks pregnant and complaining of severe abdominal pain and continuous contractions. However, no contractions were found by the nursing staff, the patient’s abdomen was soft and non-tender, and the patient […]
Plaintiff claimed failure to deal with nerve injury in hand – Defense Verdict
On May 9, 2013, plaintiff, a 46-year-old female, sustained two lacerations to her right wrist when she put her hand through a glass door. After transport to the emergency department, the defendant hand surgeon was called to evaluate the patient. The defendant’s limited hand exam revealed numbness on the ulnar aspect of the little finger, […]
Man in rehab removed window, fell – Defense Verdict
Plaintiff Dana Jones filed suit on behalf of her husband, Raymond Jones, against a Lynchburg-area hospital system alleging various theories of medical malpractice. In January 2013, Mr. Jones suffered a stroke to the right side of his brain. Three months later in April, Mr. Jones suffered a debilitating stroke to the left portion of his […]
Plaintiff claimed doctor injured urinary duct – Defense Verdict
Plaintiff underwent sigmoid resection surgery by defendant surgeon for acute diverticulitis. Plaintiff alleged that the defendant negligently transected her ureter, the urinary duct between the kidney and bladder. Plaintiff’s experts opined that the defendant should have identified, and if necessary, dissected out the left ureter to protect it. Plaintiff’s experts also opined that the defendan[...]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Driver struck twice in rear-end collision at red light — $350,000 settlement
- Drunken driver strikes vehicle on interstate — $200,000 settlement
- Trip and fall on mat leads to knee replacement surgery — $1.5M verdict
- Woman suffers permanent injury in broadside crash — $2.325M settlement
- Teacher injured in accident during morning commute — $1.5M settlement
- Woodshop incident leads to amputation of fingers — $1.3M settlement
- Motorcyclist’s foot amputated in collision — $7M settlement
- Contractor rear-ended on interstate on way to wedding — $825,000 settlement
- Man suffers back injury in crash with out-of-state driver — $530,000 settlement
- Driver crossed center line, struck 89-year-old’s vehicle — $1.2M settlement
- Jury returns defense verdict in favor of gastroenterologist
- Teens killed in T-bone collision with officer — $3.1M settlement
Opinion Digests
- Court silent on if ALJs were constitutionally appointed
- Homeowner’s lawsuit barred by res judicata
- Uncertainty over service prevents default judgment
- No stay of case pending resolution of motion
- Man’s unlawful search, seizure claims dismissed
- Amazon shows patent claim is ineligible abstract idea
- Geographical separation dooms trademark claim
- ‘Narcotics trafficker’ defense rejected
- Litigant’s suit against courts, judges dismissed
- Body cam footage properly admitted
- Motion to withdraw pleas properly denied
- Evidence supports murder, conspiracy conviction