Physician and Hospital Negligence. Mr. Baker represented the spouse of a patient who passed away following a routine surgical procedure at a hospital. During discovery, Mr. Baker established that the anesthesiologist assigned to care for the patient disregarded the readings on the machine designed to monitor the patient’s oxygen saturations. These readings became dangerously low during the procedure. The anesthesiologist assumed that the low readings were incorrect, and sent a nurse to obtain another machine. The new machine confirmed the original readings were correct and shortly thereafter the patient “coded.” The patient was revived but passed away several days later. Mr. Baker also established that the hospital was negligent in contracting with the anesthesiologist. This case was resolved through an agreed settlement. Settlement amount: Confidential.
Physician and Hospital Negligence. Mr. Baker represented the estate of a young woman who passed away after a laceration to an artery during a routine surgical procedure at an Ambulatory Surgery Center (“ASC”). During discovery, Mr. Baker established that the hospital failed to have blood for transfusions available within a reasonable time (the blood supply was located at the main hospital 15 miles away), and that the hospital’s administrator had over ridden a recommendation by the hospital’s physicians that the blood supply be located on site at the ASC. The administrator’s decision was based upon the financial cost of maintaining a blood supply on site at the ASC. The evidence also established that the physician performing the procedure was negligent. This case was resolved through an agreed settlement. Settlement amount: Confidential.
Industrial Accident. Mr. Baker represented an individual who received disabling injuries to both feet and ankles as a result of a fall from an elevated height. The client was responsible for climbing onto a ladder so that he could clean the walls of a pit at a local industrial plant. The pit was approximately 30 feet deep. The plant’s employees were responsible for ensuring that the client was placed into a safety harness and secured to a safety line. When the ladder slid out from under the client, the client fell approximately 15 feet because the safety line had not been tied off. Mr. Baker established that the fall was due to the plant’s employee’s negligence. This case was resolved through an agreed settlement. Settlement amount: $1,545,000.00. (client portion of recovery after deductions for fees and expenses $881,404.50)
Nursing Negligence. Mr. Baker represented the family of an individual who passed away following a hospital admission for treatment of a broken hip. During discovery, the evidence established that the hospital’s nursing staff repeatedly administered, relatively large dosages of narcotics to the patient. With each dosage, the patient became more lethargic and non-responsive. Eventually, the patient became completely obtunded and comatose. Despite this development, the patient was taken to surgery for a hip repair operation. Following surgery, the patient remained comatose and the hospital claimed the patient had suffered a stroke. Through expert testimony, Mr. Baker established that no stroke had occurred, and that in all probability the patient had been over medicated with narcotics, thereby causing the patient’s death. This case was resolved through an agreed settlement. Settlement amount: Confidential.
Physician Negligence. Mr. Baker represented an individual who suffered severe complications following a surgeon’s failure to diagnose an intra-abdominal abscess. During discovery, Mr. Baker established that after an initial exploratory surgery, the client had been released to recuperate at home, but returned to the hospital several days later with numerous complaints. Despite the fact that the client’s complaints were “text book” examples of symptoms indicating the client had developed an intra-abdominal abscess, the surgeon again released the client to return to the client’s home. Several days later, the client returned to the hospital and was determined at that time to be suffering from severe complications from the undiagnosed intra-abdominal abscess. After a six week hospital stay, the client was released. This case was resolved through an agreed settlement. Settlement amount: Confidential.
