Medical Malpractice and Professional Liability

Lemon v. Stewart, 111 Md. App. 511, 682 A.2d 1177, cert. denied, 344 Md. 329, 686 A.2d 635 (1996). Court of Special Appeals of Maryland affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the complaint, holding that family members of a patient who was not timely diagnosed with AIDS had no cause of action under Maryland law for emotional distress arising from their fear that they had been exposed to the patient during the period of delay.

Smith v. Pearre, 96 Md. App. 376, 625 A.2d 349, cert. denied, 332 Md. 454, 632 A.2d 151 (1993). The Court of Special Appeals of Maryland upheld a defense verdict for a gastroenterologist sued for alleged failure to diagnose stomach cancer resulting in death.

Farwell v. Un, 902 F.2d 282 (4th Cir. 1990). Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of our client, a psychiatrist, whose patient committed suicide the day after an office visit.

Adams v. Memorial Hospital at Easton, Maryland, Circuit Court for Talbot County, Maryland. Defense verdict in case involving alleged failure to diagnose signs of abruption resulting in death of full term fetus.

Belin v. Mercy Medical Center, Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland. Defense verdict in suit against an attending and a resident surgeon alleging negligence in the performance of a gallbladder operation which resulted in a transection of the common bile duct.

Blades v. Gordon, Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Defense verdict in case involving allegation that a dentist negligently performed periodontal surgery resulting in subcutaneous emphysema and permanent trigeminal nerve injury.

Booker v. Southern Maryland Hospital, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland. Case arose from allegations that a hospital deviated from the standard of care in failing to purchase sufficient numbers of end-tidal CO₂ monitors, used to detect esophageal intubation during general anesthesia. The Plaintiff suffered anoxic brain injury during the course of administration of an anesthetic for the delivery of her second child. The Plaintiff died after two weeks. The case was favorably settled for our client after the first day of trial.

Brown v. Memorial Hospital of Cumberland, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Directed verdict granted for hospital in case involving alleged failure to diagnose an abscess on the spinal cord resulting in quadriplegia.

Hammond v. Barr, Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. Earned a defense verdict for an internist whose alleged failure to diagnose severe headaches as a sentinel bleed allegedly caused the plaintiff to suffer severe cognitive impairment and complete disability.

Jacobs v. McCormack, et al., Circuit Court for Howard County, Maryland. Defense verdict for our client in case involving a rheumatologist who allegedly failed to diagnose the presence of an epidural abscess. The patient was paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the abscess. Verdict against one of the codefendants for $1.2 million.

Mandell v. Zonies, Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland. Defense verdict for our client in a case involving an internist who allegedly failed to diagnose the onset of a myocardial infarction in a forty year-old male. The patient developed a massive myocardial infarction and permanent heart damage. Verdict against remaining codefendants for $2.4 million.

Norman v. Union Hospital, Health Claims Arbitration Office and Circuit Court for Cecil County, Maryland. Allegations of malpractice in treating a man in his twenties after he had attempted to commit suicide by diving out of a third story window. Plaintiffs alleged failure to timely diagnose and treat a C5 fracture resulting in quadriplegia. In arbitration, defense verdict for our client and a judgment entered against co-defendant for $3.5 million. In circuit court, our client (the hospital) received a defense verdict and judgment was entered against the co-defendant.

Sims v. Litofsky, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland. Defense verdict for the defendant neurosurgeon despite plaintiff’s permanent quadraparesis.

Tucker v. Psychiatric Institute of Montgomery County, Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. Defense verdict for psychiatrist and hospital in a case where the patient committed suicide after release from a psychiatric facility.

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