Miami Beach Swimming Pool Accident Causes Child’s Death

You spent so much time just comforting us... You would take the time to explain what was happening in our case... We know how important obtaining a just result was for our family and for all the other families who need a safer place for their kids...

A major hotel chain was sponsoring a July 4th celebration on one of its Miami Beach properties. Great music, food and beverages were provided for guests. Regrettably, the hotel chose to save the few dollars necessary to provide a lifeguard or to properly maintain the pool safety devices. With the enormous crowds, the loud music and all the distractions, a child had slipped into the deep-end of the pool unnoticed and drowned. Her parents worked with our firm to challenge the practices of this hotel chain and forced them to take responsibility for its actions.

Award: Amount withheld, Miami Beach, Dade County, Florida.

St. Cloud Car Accident Causes Spinal Injury

You made me feel protected... You explained everything to me... You were always so positive and encouraging...

Our client, a single mother, was excited about her new job and spending the rest of her day with her family. Tragically, another driver failed to yield the right of way and struck her car. The impact caused our client's care to roll over multiple times, until it came to rest against a tree. Fire rescue had to "cut her" out of her vehicle. She was taken to the hospital, was seen by an orthopedic surgeon, and treated conservatively for her spinal fractures. Although she endured a period of immobilization with a back brace and discomfort, she continued to provide for her family.

Award: Amount withheld, St. Cloud, Osceola County, Florida

Ocala Medical Malpractice Leads to Spinal Cord Damage

We felt so insulted at the mediation when the insurance company offered only $50,000... You spent so much time teaching us what we needed to know... We are grateful you took our case...

In another case of medical neglect, we represented a hard-working man and his wife from Ocala. What began as simple tingling and numbness and his fingertips, spread to his arms and legs. Despite his doctor acknowledging the need to check his vitamin B12 levels, this was not done. A Vitamin B12 deficiency is easy to treat, with only periodic injections; however, left undiagnosed and untreated, this can lead to spinal cord and nerve damage. After months of medical neglect and a error by a local medical laboratory, this man became confused, debilitated, and unable to walk. By the time his condition was properly diagnosed by other doctors, his disability became permanent. He must always use assistive devices and narcotic medications for his constant pain syndrome.

Jury Award: $1.5 Million, Ocala, Marion County, Florida.

Columbia County Medical Malpractice Causes Short Bowel Syndrome

The doctors thought they could get away with doing this... You were right in recommending against the settlement offers...

A Lake City woman had a condition which led to the formation of polyps in her abdomen and her intestinal tract. A local doctor and surgeon, unskilled and inexperienced with this condition, recommended that she have exploratory surgery. While doing the exploratory procedure and without informing his patient beforehand, the surgeon removed one of the large polyps. Unfortunately, along with the polyp, the surgeon removed several feet of small intestine which was wrapped around the polyp. This left the woman with too little bowel to absorb the nutrients from the food she eats to survive. This condition is called short bowel syndrome and requires this woman to be feed by a tube for the rest of her life.

Jury Award: $4 Million, Lake City, Columbia County, Florida.

New Mexico Medical Malpractice Kills Mother

You spent so much time counseling us... explaining why we lost our mother... you never backed down and never hesitated when we wanted to go to trial... we are so grateful for your kindness and for your brilliant efforts for our mother...

In another tragedy that caused our firm to bring an out-of-state action--this time against the largest HMO in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A middle-aged mother of 3 adult children failed to receive a timely cardiac work-up. Despite going to her HMO doctors and complaining of symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, and a rapid heart rate, no one seriously considered her condition. Unfortunately, we have found that when a woman complains of cardiac symptoms, doctors are more likely to decide those symptoms are caused by anxiety than if it were a man making the same complaints. In this case, despite weeks to complete a full, cardiac work-up, none was done. When she did not respond to telephone calls, family members went to her home, to find her dead body.

Jury Award: $1.5 Million, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Ft. Lauderdale Personal Injury Caused By Lack of Security

It was hard reliving that nightmare, but you were so kind and reassuring... You kept me focused on what we had to accomplish together... I could not have gotten any justice without you...

A young woman returned home to her South Florida apartment to be surprised by an intruder. She was sexually assaulted and beaten. While she had overcome the physical injuries, the emotional trauma remained when she came to our firm. Amazingly, her concerns were for other unsuspecting tenants who filled the large complex. Investigating the crime in the area and the lack of adequate security measures, we were able to demonstrate responsibility on the part of the apartment complex and management company which will hopefully lead to safer measures being taken. As our client shared with us if a single person has been protected from suffering what she endured, that would be a significant victory.

Award: Amount withheld, Ft. Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida.

Miami Medical Malpractice Kills Husband and Father in Federal Tort Claim

We lost so much when dad died... mom was in such pain... You helped my brother finally open up and let all his pain out... You helped the judge feel all of our suffering...

In another claim which had to brought against the United States in accordance with Federal Law, a client was delivering Pepsi Cola products to an Air Force base when he experienced shortness of breath. He went to the base hospital, received some testing and was released with a bottle of antacids. He was told he was just suffering from indigestion. Unfortunately, he was having unstable angina pain preceding his heart attack and died later that afternoon. He left a wife of over 35 years and 3 older children. Claims were brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act where trial is held before a United States District Court Judge sitting without a jury. In this case, the Judge, a former United States Attorney, found the evidence we presented on behalf of this family convincing not only of the medical malpractice, but also of the grievous loss to this close-knit family.

Judge Awarded: $2.1 Million Miami, Dade County, Florida

Miami Personal Injury Results in Loss of an Eye

I did not know where to turn... It made no sense until you explained why my son lost his eye that day... Your kindness can never be repaid...

One of the two largest soft drink companies in the world regularly put profit over people and bottled their cola products in small, thin-walled, glass bottles. Despite the alternative of plastic, this bottler and distributor chose to use the material that provided profit advantages. Unaware of the hazards, the mother of a small child purchased a six pack of soda at a neighborhood grocery store. When she returned home and started to put her groceries away, she allowed her young son to have a soda and go out on the porch. She later heard a scream she will never forget. When she ran outside, she saw her son frantically holding his blood-covered eye. Despite the best available medical and surgical care, her little boy lost his eye. Puzzled, confused and not knowing where to turn, his mother reached out to our firm. We were able to explain the hazards of similar, glass soda bottles and the fact that when they break, the carbonated soft drink inside causes the tiny glass fragments to be propelled at high speed, damaging and lacerating anything in their path. Our firm later squared off against the manufacturer, bottler and distributor and obtained a just result. Today this remarkable young boy has become an outstanding high School football player despite having only one eye. This young man and mom truly believe this testimony provides strength to others who are facing adversity.

Award: Amount withheld, Miami, Dade County, Florida.

Orlando Personal Injury in Department Store Causes Spine Injury

It was hard not being able to work for my family... You would call me and let me know what was happening in my case... You did whatever you could to speed things up and we are thankful...

While shopping at the Florida Mall, our client was in a major department store and slipped and fell on signs that were left or dropped on the floor. While the store clearly did not intend to create such a hazard, its policies increased the likelihood of this occurrence. At first, the store sought to blame our client for not seeing the hazard. However, it proved unwise to blame a customer for not seeing what should not have been on the floor, and a just conclusion resulted.

Award: Amount withheld, Orlando, Orange County, Florida.

Orlando Medical Malpractice Involving Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Leads to Eye Muscle Injury

The insurance company tried to buy us off cheap for $10,000. You were confident that we needed to leave the mediation right then... All the time you spent with us before and during trial was so important. As frightening as the process, you made us feel confident that justice was possible.

Plagued by years of sinus congestion, our client underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. The surgery is performed using an endoscope, or tiny telescope with a camera on the end, inserted into the nose to permit visualization of the sinuses cavities and allow for removal of obstructions. Unfortunately, the surgeon failed to keep his instruments within his field of view and inadvertently entered the eye orbit. While that alone would not have caused permanent injury, the surgeon then failed to check and ensure that he was in the proper location. As a result, he completely severed one of our client's eye muscles, leaving him with loss of eye movement, double vision, and loss of peripheral vision.

The doctor and his insurance company tried to get away with committing medical malpractice. The insurance company offered only $10,000 to settle the case. That terribly inadequate amount would not have covered our client's medical expenses and provided nothing for his pain and suffering and impairment. We recommended that the case be tried, and we were able to obtain a fair jury to listen to the evidence.

Jury Award: $1.28 Million, Orlando, Orange County, Florida

Puerto Rico Medical Malpractice Kills Wife and Mother

You spent so much time here to get to know us and understand all that we lost when my wife died... What you did for me and my children... you will always be part of our family...

A lovely wife and mother was home hanging curtains. When she fell off a small step ladder she landed on a metal rod which impaled her. On arrival at the hospital emergency department no required medical screening was performed. The Ct Scans that were taken were not reviewed by a radiologist. Instead, a physician’s assistant read the films and missed the signs of bowel injury. Tragically, the patient was discharged home with a life-threatening injury. She died the next morning leaving a husband and children grief-stricken.

Award: $1.75 Million, San Juan, Puerto Rico