High Noon for the Sheriff

Jun 1, 2010 9:10 AM CDT

Issues re Pediatrician Now Facing 500 Sex Charges Weren’t Taken Seriously by Other Docs

Now charged with more than 500 sex offenses, a Delaware pediatrican was the the subject of complaints dating back to 1994 that he had acted inappropriately with young female patients. Yet medical professionals, including at least one prominent physician colleague, apparently didn’t take the allegations against Dr. Earl Bradley seriously,…

May 17, 2010 5:58 PM CDT

Malpractice Cases Keep New Firm Busy; ‘We Even Have a Case Against a Psychic’

Three years after it was launched, Armstrongs Solicitors is the fastest-growing law firm in Liverpool, England, due in part to its booming professional negligence business, reports Click Liverpool. Prior to venturing out into the new practice area six months ago, Armstrongs expected to find plenty of plaintiffs interested in pursuing…

May 4, 2010 5:35 PM CDT

Pop the Caps

Once again, the Illinois high court flips med-mal limits

May 1, 2010 7:40 AM CDT

Open Wide

Should some dental patients have a lawyer on retainer?

Apr 1, 2010 5:10 AM CDT

Suit Says Woman Died While Getting ‘Lifestyle Lift’

A lawsuit claims a 49-year-old Massachusetts woman died after receiving local anesthesia during cosmetic surgery known as a “Lifestyle Lift.” Donna Ames, 49, was recently divorced and depressed when she went to the Waltham office of the Lifestyle Lift company in hopes that the surgery would make her look younger,…

Mar 4, 2010 2:54 PM CST

PI Lawyer Takes ‘Honest Services’ Plea; Case Once Thought ‘Massive’ Fizzles

A Nevada personal injury lawyer accused of settling cases to his clients’ detriment has taken a plea, on the eve of a second trial in a federal “honest services” medical insurance fraud case once thought potentially to involve hundreds of professionals. Attorney Noel Gage has agreed to plead guilty on…

Feb 23, 2010 10:02 PM CST

Whistle-Blowing Nurse to Stand Trial for Reporting Doctor to Disciplinary Authorities

In what the New York Times identifies as possibly an unprecedented prosecution, a former Texas nurse faces trial today on charges that she misused official information when she reported a doctor to state medical authorities. The nurse, Anne Mitchell, reportedly considered she may lose her job as a result of…

Feb 8, 2010 6:01 PM CST

Ill. Supreme Court Strikes Down Caps on Med-Mal Awards

A divided Illinois Supreme Court has struck down caps on medical malpractice awards in an opinion today that showed little regard for the practice in other states. The opinion (PDF) said the tort reform law interferes with the judiciary’s power to assess and reduce verdicts, violating the separation of powers…

Feb 4, 2010 4:28 PM CST

Pelosi Health Bill Has ‘Buried Tort Bomb’ Discouraging Damages Caps

Buried in a health bill sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a provision that discourages caps on damages and attorney fees. The bill says states with such caps can’t qualify for incentive payments to develop alternative medical liability laws, the Wall Street Journal reports in an editorial that criticizes…

Nov 12, 2009 12:57 PM CST

Judge Sanctions Lawyer $11.5K for Coaching Witness at Deposition

A 24-year practitioner has been sanctioned $11,484 by a Connecticut judge for coaching a witness during a deposition. Defense lawyer Madonna Sacco has been sanctioned four times previously for “strikingly similar” behavior during depositions, but the penalties apparently didn’t have the desired deterrent effect, according to Hartford Superior Court Judge…

Nov 2, 2009 5:40 PM CST

Unlucky in Med Mal & Law Firm Suits, Woman Wins Case re ‘Frivolous’ $6K in Costs

Allegedly misdiagnosed with breast cancer, Victoria Kremen had a double mastectomy. Then she sued her doctors for malpractice–and lost, because the statute of limitations had run. Then she sued her lawyers for malpractice—and lost again. Now, however, she’s finally scored something of a legal victory, reports the New York Law…

Oct 13, 2009 7:37 PM CDT

3rd Circuit OKs $567M Legal Bill for Work By 72 Firms on Fen-Phen Case

A $567 million fee awarded by a federal district judge for 350,000 hours of legal work logged by 72 law firms in Fen-Phen diet drug litigation has been approved by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Rejecting arguments over the cost to plaintiffs who opted out of the complex…

Oct 9, 2009 5:50 PM CDT

$9M Verdict for ED Treatment Gone Bad

A Georgia man who claimed the treatment he receive for erectile dysfunction left him permanently scarred has been awarded more than $9 million in damages. John Henry Howard received the treatment from the Boston Men’s Health Center, operating clinics as the Boston Medical Group, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Howard injected…

Oct 7, 2009 12:01 PM CDT

Family Files Claim Over Child’s Death from ‘Inappropriate’ Dental Patch

The family of an autistic teen who died in his sleep of ketamine and Fentanyl intoxication after his mother applied a topical painkiller patch prescribed after dental work has filed a court claim against the hospital, doctor and resident involved. Attorney Chris Davis, who represents the family, says an “egregious”…

Sep 30, 2009 6:31 PM CDT