Lawsuit Filed Over Fall from Palo Alto Shuttle Bus Settled

On a school field trip in 2007, Palo Alto, California teen Rodolfo Flores boarded a city shuttle bus and congregated with several friends near the back of the vehicle. However, when the bus turned a corner, Flores fell through the rear door of the vehicle, sustaining several significant injuries in the process. Months later, Flores began experiencing neurological symptoms, including difficulty concentrating. The suit filed in the case claimed that the city was negligent in allowing the bus, which had recently had a wheelchair station removed from its rear seating area, continue to serve passengers. Ultimately, the Flores family received a $125,000 settlement in the case.

If you or a loved one has sustained harm due to the negligence of a business or a government agency, we can help. Contact the bus accident attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us directly at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

New Jersey Family Awarded $18.5 Million in Birth Injury Lawsuit

The life of young Darius Morgan, now 12, has been beset by tragedy. During his birth, complications arose that caused the newborn to be deprived of oxygen, resulting in cerebral palsy. Then, in 2004, Darius’ mother died of an unrelated terminal illness. After a transfer of legal guardianship process that took more than three years to complete, Darius was adopted by an aunt, Darlene Kim, who also chose to move forward with litigation the boy’s mother had initiated against the Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey, which had overseen the C-section delivery procedure.

The suit claimed that the emergency C-section was unnecessarily delayed, and that this prolonged process was likely the direct cause of the brain damage that resulted in Darius later being diagnosed with cerebral palsy. After hearing arguments from both sides, the jury returned with a verdict for the plaintiff and an award of $18.5 million for the family, most of which will be dedicated to paying for Darius’ round-the-clock medical care.

Has your family been impacted by the tragedy of a birth injury? If so, we’re here to help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Injury Lawsuit Stemming from Vaccine Controversy to Reach Supreme Court

The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 was instituted to protect vaccine manufacturers from the threat of lawsuits that could make it financially unfeasible for the companies to continue manufacturing the treatments. However, critics of the law argue that it goes too far in shielding the manufacturers and offers little in the way of protections to children who have been adversely impacted by vaccines.

A case debating the merits of the law is currently on its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. It is based on a challenge brought by the parents of a young girl who developed a rare seizure disorder after receiving a standard diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine at six months of age. The girl, who is now an adolescent, requires round-the-clock care and has been rendered unable to care for herself due to profound developmental delays.


The case, which will likely be heard by the Supreme Court later this year, could have significant implications for the ongoing debate over the safety of childhood vaccines.


Have you or a loved one developed problems after receiving medical treatment? If so, we can help you understand your legal options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Illinois Woman Awarded $7 Million in Target Fall

80-year-old Illinois resident Claire Putman was entering a Des Plaines area Target store when she was knocked to the ground by the store’s automatic doors, which were malfunctioning. Putman suffered a number of injuries in the incident, including neurological damage that led to cognitive deficits. As a result of her injuries, Putman is no longer deemed capable of taking care of herself or her 59-year-old daughter with special needs and has had to be placed in a long-term care facility. Putman’s attorneys claimed that the doors did not have a safety switch that would allow the device to be deactivated in the event of a malfunction. Putman was ultimately awarded more than $7 million in the case.

Have you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a defective device? If so, we’re here to help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Maryland Birth Injury Lawsuit Nets Award of $4 Million

A jury in Maryland agreed with the claims of negligence brought forth in a malpractice case against an emergency room physician and an obstetrician. Now 9 years old, Ryan Dineen suffered from a lack of oxygen at the time of his birth and developed a severe case of cerebral palsy as a result.

His mother was admitted to an area hospital during the 36th week of her pregnancy with complaints of nausea and abdominal pain. While her condition was being assessed, the fetal heartbeat was not monitored consistently. Hours after her admission, it was found that the baby’s heartbeat had dipped significantly, prompting doctors to launch into an emergency caesarean section procedure. However, the suit claims that this action was taken too late to prevent the lack of oxygen that ultimately resulted in Ryan’s cerebral palsy.

Has your family been impacted by the tragedy of a birth injury? If so, we can help. Contact the birth injury attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

$6 Million Judgment in Tennessee Brain Injury Case

A jury in Hamilton County, Tennessee has found local gastroenterologist Michael Goodman to be 51% at fault in the erroneous medical treatment that led plaintiff Kristen Freeman to be afflicted with permanent brain damage.

33-year-old Freeman consulted with Dr. Goodman to get to the bottom of the ongoing bowel and GI problems she had experienced for some time. However, the diagnostic procedures that Goodman performed set off a chain of adverse reactions that ended in Ms. Freeman experiencing significant brain damage. Today, Ms. Freeman can no longer care for herself and requires 24-hour assistance.

The endoscopy and colonoscopy that Dr. Goodman and his staff performed caused a rupture in Ms. Freeman’s small intestine. Within hours after the procedure, Ms. Freeman was vomiting and in severe pain. However, when the patient called the doctor’s office to ask about her options, she was given an anti-nausea prescription, but was not advised to seek emergency care. The next day, she suffered cardiopulmonary arrest and developed severe brain damage.

Have you or a loved one suffered as a result of improper or inadequate medical treatment? If so, we can help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

$29.5 Million Settlement Awarded in Chicago Brain Injury Case

On September 17, 2008, Illinois resident Renea Poppel had just settled into her normal morning commute when the train she was on ran off the tracks between Joliet and Chicago, injuring more than 100 passengers and killing two. Poppel sustained severe injuries in the derailment, including a broken pelvis, a broken neck, and severe brain damage.

Even after more than 20 surgeries, Poppel requires the use of a wheelchair and experiences ongoing sensory problems.

An investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board cited human error in the derailment, noting that an engineer did not properly slow the train before attempting to change tracks. The suggested speed for such a maneuver is approximately 10 miles per hour, while black box data indicate that the commuter train was traveling at an estimated 69 miles per hour.

A Cook County jury awarded Poppel $29.5 million in the case, citing her medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and future damages.

Have you or a family member sustained a traumatic injury? Let an experienced personal injury attorney walk you through your legal options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Malpractice, Wrongful Death Claims Filed Against Oklahoma Surgeon

In 2006, Oklahoma City neurosurgeon Paul Francel garnered worldwide attention when the risky brain surgery he performed on a Russian teen that had a large cancerous tumor on the brain stem left the patient brain dead. Months later, the patient died after having remained in a coma for some time.

The parents of patient David Kurbanov have filed multiple complaints against Francel, claiming that the standard of care provided by the surgeon did not reflect current medical practice guidelines. Shortly after the surgery, the Kurbanov family began expressing doubts about the medical team that had performed the operation. Although the outcome of the surgery did not go as smoothly as planned, Francel and his staff continued to pursue national and international media coverage in the case.

Since the time of David Kurbanov’s death, half a dozen malpractice and personal injury claims have been filed against Francel in other cases. The state licensure board also has an investigation underway.

Have you or a loved one suffered as a result of medical malpractice? We can help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

$6.5 Million Settlement Reached in Illinois Birth Injury Case

A settlement was recently agreed upon in a birth injury case that was filed following the April 7, 2001 delivery of infant Roberto Morales Jr. During the delivery, medical personnel at Aurora, Illinois’ Provena Mercy Medical Center delivered the drug Pitocin to the mother in order to induce contractions and expedite the delivery process. However, this drug is also known to cause reduction in the infant’s heart rate and oxygen level. The suit filed against the hospital claims that medical personnel failed to respond to signs that the infant was in distress due to a restricted oxygen supply. Although the at-risk infant was transported by air to a more advanced hospital facility soon after birth, he sustained a critical brain injury as a result of oxygen deprivation during delivery and will likely require lifelong care.

Has the tragedy of birth injury touched your family? You need the advice of an experienced team of personal injury attorneys. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Pennsylvania Jury Awards $20.5 Million in Birth Injury Case

A Pennsylvania Jury agreed with a malpractice claiming that several preventable errors were made by medical personnel during Cody White’s June 2001 birth. Specifically, a four-hour delay that occurred during the delivery process is believed to have deprived the neonate of oxygen at a crucial juncture, resulting in cerebral palsy. Although monitoring equipment indicated that the fetus was in distress, a doctor did not arrive to attend to the birth for more than two hours. At that time, the medical team opted to attempt to induce the birth rather than initiate an emergency C-section. Today, Cody requires round the clock care. Much of the jury’s $20.5 million award will be dedicated to his lifelong health care needs.

Our team offers caring, compassionate legal advice and counsel to families who have been impacted by the tragedy of birth injury. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Texas Woman Claims that Chemotherapy Treatment Caused Stroke

When Ivalyn Anderson of Orange, Texas arrived at the Ben Rogers Cancer Institute to begin chemotherapy treatment for her disease in 2006, she and her family were holding out hope for a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, Anderson suffered a stroke soon after she began treatment, an outcome that she blames on the method that was used to administer her chemotherapy drugs. A subcutaneous central venous access device was inserted into one of Anderson’s veins to dispense medication, and soon afterwards, Anderson suffered a stroke, a traumatic rupture of her subclavian artery, and permanent injuries to her brain and heart. Anderson’s medical malpractice suit claims that the misplacement of the device – and the staff’s subsequent failure to recognize the error – caused her injuries.

Have you or a loved one fallen prey to medical malpractice? We can help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

$11.4 Million Jury Award in Wisconsin Birth Injury Case

A recent case in Crawford County, Wisconsin underscored the potential severity of medical missteps that occur during the labor and delivery process. The family of a young boy who sustained severe brain injuries at birth filed malpractice claims against several medical staff members at the Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Specifically, the case claimed that a nurse and nurse midwife at the center acted negligently in the course of overseeing the patient’s delivery. A jury agreed with the substance of these claims, awarding the family $11.4 million in the case. Much of the award will be administered in a trust to help cover the patient’s health cover costs.

If your family has been impacted by the tragedy of birth injury, we can help you understand your options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Washington State Birth Injury Case Yields $4.25 Million Award

When an infant’s oxygen supply is cut off during the labor and delivery process, brain injuries and cerebral palsy are often the sad results. Tragically, these cases are often precipitated by preventable medical mistakes. That’s exactly what a Kirkland, Washington jury said happened in the case of 5-year-old Miriam Tavaras. Although her mother’s pregnancy had been classified as high risk, the jury found that hospital staff did not take proper precautions in the case or respond appropriately when signs of fetal distress were detected. The award of $4.25 million is intended partially to help fund the lifelong medical care that Miriam will require.

Has your family been touched by the tragedy of birth injury? We’re here to help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

Chicago Area Family Awarded $9.75 in Birth Injury Settlement

When Rosa Lopez’ pregnancy entered its 41st week, her doctors decided to induce labor with the drug Pitocin. However, the drug’s action proved to be too intense, putting the fetus under pressure and depriving the baby of much-needed oxygen during delivery. As a result, the child, Madeleine, suffers from severe brain damage and will require ongoing care for the rest of her life. After several years of negotiation, the individual doctors were dropped from the suit and the hospital agreed to pay a settlement of $9.75 million.

If your family has suffered a birth injury, you need the expert advice of an experienced personal injury attorney. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.

$15 Million Awarded in Traumatic Brain Injury Case

In 2005, 14-year-old Hanford, California resident Christopher Chan was riding his bicycle on the streets of his hometown when he was struck by a vehicle. Chan suffered severe injuries in the collision, including a traumatic brain injury that significantly limited Chan’s cognitive ability. Chan’s parents filed a suit against the city, claiming that municipal workers failed to maintain basic safety standards on the street where the collision occurred. The $15 million that was recently awarded in the case will be paid in installments over the course of Chan’s lifetime.

Has your family been impacted by the tragedy of a traumatic brain injury? We’re here to help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.