Medical Malpractice News

Toniquea Rivers was just seven months into her pregnancy when she was rushed to the Saint Francis Medical Center in Trenton, NJ. Rivers’ doctors found that her baby was in distress and scheduled an emergency caesarean section for that day. Her baby boy, Zion Rivers, was successfully delivered on January 27, 2012 by C-section. Soon after Rivers and her child were discharged and they returned to their home in Trenton. But just a week later, she collapsed to the floor.

Capital Health System Inc. paramedics were called to bring Rivers to the emergency room at Saint Francis. And according to a medical malpractice lawsuit, filed on January 29, 2014 on behalf of Rivers’ family, the paramedics improperly inserted a breathing tube. The negligence allegedly led to the death of Rivers later that day. She was just 20-years-old.

After more than three years of litigation and a two-week trial, a New Jersey jury determined that Capital Health System Inc. did not act in good faith--a unique requirement for this type of case under New Jersey law--and is therefore liable for Rivers’ death. It took the jury about nine hours to find in the plaintiff’s favor, awarding Rivers’ family $6 million in damages. Two thirds of the verdict will be distributed to Rivers’ estate and one third will be set aside for her child, who is now three-years-old.

“We believe that the verdict accurately reflects the value of the economic damages and the non-economic damages in the case,” said one of the attorneys representing the plaintiff. “I think the verdict reflects, No. 1, that they were very displeased with the medical care that she got by these paramedics. They found it unacceptable, and it rose to a higher level than just mere negligence.”

New Jersey Jury Awards Family $6 Million After Hearing 2014 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
31 oct
New Jersey Jury Awards Family $6 Million After Hearing 2014 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Toniquea Rivers was just seven months into her pregnancy when she was rushed to the Saint Francis Medical Center in Trenton, NJ. Rivers’ doctors found that her baby was in distress and scheduled an emergency caesarean section for that day. Her baby boy, Zion Rivers, was successfully delivered on January 27, 2012 by C-section. Soon

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The Law of Medical Malpractice in Montana: A Survey of Basic Considerations
29 oct
The Law of Medical Malpractice in Montana: A Survey of Basic Considerations

The Law of Medical Malpractice in Montana:  A Survey of Basic Considerations Montana medical malpractice law is among the most complex legal practice areas.  The statutes, case law, and regulations governing medical malpractice law in Montana are highly technical.  For instance, there are very strict and complicated filing deadlines that must be followed, or the injured

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Massachusetts Jury Finds Doctor Breached Standard of Care Leading to Woman’s Death; Family Awarded $4,000,000
27 oct
Massachusetts Jury Finds Doctor Breached Standard of Care Leading to Woman’s Death; Family Awarded $4,000,000

At the end of 2007, Marie Gabriel-Gelin found out that she was pregnant with her fourth child. Gabriel-Gelin, 36 at the time, and her doctors at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, MA decided that a cesarean section was the best option for a safe delivery. However, during her pregnancy she became anemic, making a cesarean

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Michigan Jury Finds Detroit Medical Center Negligent; Awards Family $40 Million
25 oct
Michigan Jury Finds Detroit Medical Center Negligent; Awards Family $40 Million

On October 17, 2013, Terrea Holly found herself lightheaded. Her heart was racing and she was unable to catch her breath. As she rushed to the emergency room, run by the Detroit Medical Center (DMC), she tried to take deep breaths and to not panic. To her initial relief, after being seen by a DMC

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Delaware Jury Finds Obstetrician Negligent & Awards Family $3 Million
25 oct
Delaware Jury Finds Obstetrician Negligent & Awards Family $3 Million

On April 9, 2008 Monica Broughton consented to her doctor’s recommendation that they induce labor. Broughton had just learned that she had developed diabetes during her pregnancy.  She had also recently been told that her unborn son’s shoulder was stuck behind her pelvis. She never considered an alternative, especially because, according to the lawsuit, Wong

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Providence Jury Awards $40 Million to Man Who Lost His Leg
23 oct
Providence Jury Awards $40 Million to Man Who Lost His Leg

Peter Sfameni’s health was declining quickly. His lower back was in constant agony, his weight was rapidly declining, and he was always tired. Finally, at the end of 2010, he became so concerned with his condition that he went to the emergency room at the Rhode Island Hospital. Doctors initially believed that Sfameni might be

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Nephritis Misdiagnosis
22 oct
The Law of Medical Malpractice in Maine: A Survey of Basic Considerations

The Law of Medical Malpractice in Maine:  A Survey of Basic Considerations Maine medical malpractice law is among the most complex legal practice areas.  The statutes, case law, and regulations governing medical malpractice law in Maine are highly technical.  For instance, there are very strict and complicated filing deadlines that must be followed, or the injured

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Nephritis Misdiagnosis
18 oct
The Law of Medical Malpractice in Iowa: A Survey of Basic Considerations

The Law of Medical Malpractice in Iowa:  A Survey of Basic Considerations Iowa medical malpractice law is among the most complex legal practice areas.  The statutes, case law, and regulations governing medical malpractice law in Iowa are highly technical.  For instance, there are very strict and complicated filing deadlines that must be followed, or the injured

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Nephritis Misdiagnosis
17 oct
New York State Settles Medical Malpractice Lawsuit; Agrees to Pay Abdusalamov Family $22 Million

New York State Settles Medical Malpractice Lawsuit; Agrees to Pay Abdusalamov Family $22 Million Magomed Abdusalamov, formerly a professional boxer from the Republic of Dagestan, was undefeated entering his last fight on November 2, 2013. The match was held in the Theater at Madison Square Garden, located in midtown Manhattan, before thousands of spectators. The

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Miami-Dade Jury Finds Leon Medical Centers Liable for Botched Eye Surgery
29 sep
Miami-Dade Jury Finds Leon Medical Centers Liable for Botched Eye Surgery

It was September 2013 when Miguel Diaz and his wife, Esther Diaz, sat in the waiting room at one of the health clinics run by Leon Medical Centers in South Florida. Miguel Diaz still had postoperative bandages covering his right eye following his cataract surgery a few days earlier. Diaz was excited, but nervous for

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Iowa Jury Finds Nurse Anesthetist & Medical Group Negligent
29 sep
Iowa Jury Finds Nurse Anesthetist & Medical Group Negligent

Iowa Jury Finds Nurse Anesthetist & Medical Group Negligent for Wrongful Death; Family Awarded $10 Million   Towards the end of 2014, Richard J. Pellock and his wife, Joann, waited nervously for his bladder test results. Pellock, then 80, had been experiencing pain during urination and the couple, married for 54 years, were hoping to

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California Family Continues to Wait for Millions Awarded in 2014
27 sep
California Family Continues to Wait for Millions Awarded in 2014

California Family Continues to Wait for Millions Awarded in 2014 More than nine years ago a routine prenatal exam at the Pittsburg Health Center, located in northern California, ended in catastrophe for the Cuevas family. According to a medical malpractice lawsuit, filed on behalf of the family, the attending doctor did not respond quickly enough

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Minnesota Jury Finds Nurse Negligent for Wrongful Death; Awards Family $20,000,000
20 sep
Minnesota Jury Finds Nurse Negligent for Wrongful Death; Awards Family $20,000,000

Minnesota Jury Finds Nurse Negligent for Wrongful Death; Awards Family $20,000,000 Nicole Bermingham gave birth to her first child in August 2013. She was discharged after the successful delivery and was happy to bring her baby boy home. But something was not quite right. She complained of pain in her pelvic region and her back.

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Family of Deceased Veteran Settles 2014 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
19 sep
Family of Deceased Veteran Settles 2014 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Family of Deceased Veteran Settles 2014 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for $2,650,000   Gary Wheelis, then 63, was enjoying a meal on December 12, 2012, when he began to choke on a piece of his food. Wheelis was not able to dislodge the obstruction, but he made it to the Backus Hospital, located in Norwich, Connecticut,

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Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Filed Against California Hospital Over Alleged Wrongful Death
14 sep
Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Filed Against California Hospital Over Alleged Wrongful Death

Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Filed Against California Hospital Over Alleged Wrongful Death Last summer, Gabriela Rojas journeyed to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, located in Napa County, for what should have been one of the best days of her life. After a long pregnancy, Rojas was excited to finally meet her baby boy. But just

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Seven Women File Separate Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Against Omaha Doctor
14 sep
Seven Women File Separate Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Against Omaha Doctor

Seven Women File Separate Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Against Omaha Doctor Every year in the United States millions of people undergo cosmetic surgery procedures. Some of the surgeries are elective and some are medically prescribed, but as the industry grows, so too has the reported incidents of medical malpractice by the doctors performing the operations. Over

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Two PA Doctors and Medical Center Settle Malpractice Lawsuit for $3.5 Million
28 aug
Two PA Doctors and Medical Center Settle Malpractice Lawsuit for $3.5 Million

On February 6, 2012, Kristine Coleman felt a sharp pain shoot down her left arm. The sensation lingered and Coleman, then 41, was rushed to the Geisinger Community Medical Center. Coleman told the attending physicians that she was experiencing pain from her left shoulder all the way to her left hand. The medical center staff

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North Carolina Family Files Lawsuit Against Cape Fear Valley Health System
25 aug
North Carolina Family Files Lawsuit Against Cape Fear Valley Health System

North Carolina Family Files Lawsuit Against Cape Fear Valley Health System Less than a year ago, David Edward Bryant, Sr., who was then 67, lost his balance and fell. Bryant, who was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam, suffered bruising, but at the time of the fall avoided any major injuries. He

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Jury Finds Colorado Doctor Negligent for Child’s Brain Damage;  Family Awarded $4 Million
23 aug
Jury Finds Colorado Doctor Negligent for Child’s Brain Damage; Family Awarded $4 Million

Jury Finds Colorado Doctor Negligent for Child’s Brain Damage; Family Awarded $4 Million In the fall of 2005, Pamela Rudnicki rushed to the Memorial Hospital, located in Colorado Springs, CO. Rudnicki was nearly nine months pregnant at the time and was approaching her due date when her doctor, Peter Bianco, made the decision to induce

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Washington State Jury Finds Neurosurgeon Negligent
21 aug
Washington State Jury Finds Neurosurgeon Negligent

Washington State Jury Finds Neurosurgeon Negligent; Awards Patient $1.2 Million Emily Daley, now 42-years-old, developed scoliosis when she was a teenager. In the United States over 3 million cases of scoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spine, are diagnosed each year. The majority of individuals who have scoliosis learn to deal with the

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Jury Finds Two Florida Doctors Negligent for Stroke;  McCallum Awarded $7.92 Million
16 aug
Jury Finds Two Florida Doctors Negligent for Stroke; McCallum Awarded $7.92 Million

Jury Finds Two Florida Doctors Negligent for Stroke; McCallum Awarded $7.92 Million In May 2013, Graciela McCallum’s doctors decided to take her off a blood thinner called Coumadin. She had been taking the preventative drug for nearly 15 years to prevent blood clots from forming that could cause her to suffer from a stroke. McCallum,

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Pennsylvania Surgeon Found Negligent for the Death of Thomas A. Natale; A Mercer County Jury Awards Family $5.1 Million
16 aug
Pennsylvania Surgeon Found Negligent for the Death of Thomas A. Natale; A Mercer County Jury Awards Family $5.1 Million

Pennsylvania Surgeon Found Negligent for the Death of Thomas A. Natale; A Mercer County Jury Awards Family $5.1 Million Nearly a decade ago, Thomas A. Natale Jr. was standing on the back of a truck at work when he lost his balance and began to fall. Natale tried to brace himself before he hit the

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2013 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Settled;  Chicago Heights Hospital Pays Family $15 Million
14 aug
2013 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Settled; Chicago Heights Hospital Pays Family $15 Million

2013 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Settled; Chicago Heights Six years ago, Nyelle Brown was born in a Chicago Heights hospital. Her delivery was at first a routine one, but after being administered Pitocin—a drug that induces labor and contractions—both child and mother began to experience significant distress. Instead of opting for a cesarean section, the staff,

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Family Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Against California Chiropractor
11 aug
Family Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Against California Chiropractor

It appeared to be just another day in the life of supermodel Katie May. Another photo shoot and another paycheck. But on January 29, 2016, the shoot ended abruptly when May pinched a nerve during the session. She quickly decided to see chiropractor Eric Marc Swartz for a consultation. Swartz allegedly evaluated her and gave

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Teenage Shooting Victim’s Family Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Against Florida Hospital for Negligence in His Death
09 aug
Teenage Shooting Victim’s Family Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Against Florida Hospital for Negligence in His Death

Teenage Shooting Victim’s Family Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Against Florida Hospital for Negligence in His Death Brian Brown was getting ready to start his freshman year at Merced College in California, where he had received a full scholarship to play football. Before moving from Florida , Brown needed to make some extra cash for living

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It is not yet clear whether Capital Health System, Inc. will appeal the ruling.