Undiagnosed Blood Clot Leads to $2 Million Settlement for Pennsylvania Woman

71-year-old Pauline Raffaele of Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania entered a local hospital in 2005 to undergo knee replacement surgery after advancing arthritis had limited her mobility and caused her years of chronic pain. However, soon after surgery, Raffaele began experiencing numbness in her lower left leg and reported to doctors that she couldn't feel or use the limb. Soon afterwards, it was found that an existing blood clot had been exacerbated by the knee-replacement surgery and was beyond repair. Raffaele underwent an emergency amputation procedure soon afterwards, losing most of her lower left leg.

The doctor, an attending nurse, and the facility were all named in the resulting suit. After a jury trial, Raffaele was awarded $2 million.

Has medical malpractice impacted your family? If so, 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.

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.

Ohio Woman’s Swine Flu Death Resulted from Substandard Care, Suit Claims

The swine flu epidemic that first reached the United States in the spring of 2009 has claimed more than 11,000 lives to date. However, in one case in Ohio, a recent lawsuit asserts that it was shoddy medical treatment, not the illness itself, that was responsible for the death of 20-year-old Kelsey Young, who was pregnant at the time that she contracted the H1N1 virus.

The patient was treated for the symptoms of swine flu at Dublin Methodist Hospital, where medical personnel failed to follow the protocols for treatment set forth by the Centers for Disease Control. After being sent home and experiencing worsening symptoms, Young sought treatment at a different area hospital, where her baby was delivered shortly before Young passed away from the virus.

Has your family been impacted by substandard medical care? If so, you need the assistance of a team of experienced 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.

Illinois Immunization Injury at Center of Recently Filed Lawsuit

The introduction of immunizations represented a great stride forward in terms of public health, but some recipients have questioned the safety of the procedures used to perform immunizations. In one recent example, when Tanisha Thurman visited a Chicago public health center for her booster shots in 2007, the young girl sustained a serious eye injury when punctured by an errant needle. The girl's mother filed a lawsuit seeking over $500,000 in damages in the case, noting that since the incident, Tanisha has suffered from pain and visual impairment.

Have you suffered as the result of medical malpractice? If so, you need the help of a qualified team of personal injury lawyers. Contact the 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.

Actor James Woods Reaches Settlement with Hospital in Brother’s Wrongful Death Case

James Woods, the actor known for his portrayals of unsavory characters in movies like Nixon and Casino, and more recently, the television legal drama Shark, has reached a settlement with a Rhode Island hospital over the death of Woods’ brother, Michael.

In 2006, Michael Woods was admitted to the Kent Hospital emergency department with complaints of vomiting and a sore throat. However, soon afterwards, Woods suffered a heart attack and died.

The wrongful death suit brought against the hospital and attending physicians by Woods’ family members claimed that medical personnel did not do enough to help the ailing patient. However, the parties were eventually able to reach a settlement, including a provision that requires the hospital to open a research institute named after Woods’ brother and dedicated to researching – and helping to reduce – human errors in health care.

If a medical error has impacted your family, we can walk you through your legal options. Contact the medical malpractice 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.

Atlanta Area Man Receives $9 Million Award After Being Scarred by Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

53-year-old John Henry Howard of Ellenwood, Georgia received a jury award of more than $9 million in a suit filed against medical care provider Boston Men’s Health Center. Howard’s suit claimed that the clinic, which specializes in the treatment of male sexual dysfunction, supplied him with a proprietary drug that caused scarring and other complications in his genital area. After injecting the drug as he had been instructed to by clinic personnel, Howard began experiencing pain, lesions, and other symptoms. However, he did not immediately seek medical care, as he claimed to have been confused by the instructions provided by the clinic.

A DeKalb County jury agreed with Howard’s claims and awarded punitive and health care damages in excess of $9 million.

If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of improper medical treatment, we can 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.

New York Woman Wins $43 Million in Birth Injury Case

A 25-year-old patient suffering from cerebral palsy as the result of a birth injury received a favorable settlement in a lawsuit that had originally been filed against Bellevue Women’s Hospital in Niskayuna, New York nearly two decades ago.

The medical malpractice suit claimed that the hospital made several key errors at the time of Tiffany Busone’s delivery, including improper resuscitation and intubation. These errors resulted in a lack of oxygen, which in turn caused brain damage that led to cerebral palsy. Confined to a wheelchair and in need of round-the-clock health care, Busone was deemed by the court to have suffered severe economic and health problems as a result of the hospital’s medical mistakes. The $43 million verdict included $15 million for future pain and suffering, $6 million for past pain and suffering, and $20 for home health care costs.

Has your family been forced to cope with the tragedy of a birth injury? You need the advice of a qualified 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.

Wrongful Death Suit Filed in South Dakota Circumcision Case

For most new parents of little boys, the circumcision process is a simple (if slightly nerve-wracking) experience. However, for the Keefe family of Pierre, South Dakota, this typically simple procedure turned tragic. After six-week-old Eric Keefe was circumcised at a hospital on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, where the family lives, everything seemed to be fine. However, after the infant was discharged, he suffered massive blood loss, ultimately dying the next day. The wrongful death lawsuit filed in the case claims that the Indian Health Service Hospital failed to provide the parents with proper discharge instructions and medication. The Keefe family is seeking $2 million in the case.

Has your family been affected by substandard medical treatment and/or advice? If so, we’re here to help. Contact the medical malpractice 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.

Arkansas Surgeon Hit with Multiple Malpractice Claims

A second medical malpractice lawsuit has been filed against John Weiss, a Fayetteville surgeon specializing in heart problems. The latest suit, brought on behalf of patient John Walters, claims that Weiss negligently failed to remove a surgical tool known as a blue surgical tunneler from Walters’ left leg after performing heart surgery on him in December 2004. The tool was discovered in July 2008, when another physician ordered an x-ray image of Weiss’ hip in the course of diagnosing another ailment. A subsequent diagnosis of leukemia has been attributed to the impeded blood flow caused by the foreign body. The malpractice suit filed against Walters seeks monetary damages for pain, suffering, and medical expenses.


Have you or a loved one suffered as a result of poor medical care? 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.

Michigan Woman Awarded $3M in Medical Malpractice Case

65-year-old Michigan resident Sue Apsey was awarded nearly $3 million in a medical malpractice case filed against an area clinic known as Shiawassee Radiology Consultants. While undergoing surgery performed to remove an ovarian cyst in January 2000, Apsey fell victim to a bowel leak. Despite multiple rounds of imaging that were carried out to pinpoint the source of the problem, radiologists did not detect the bowel leak. Furthermore, multiple doses of barium were administered to Apsey over a ten-day period to aid in the imaging process, but because of the perforation in her bowel, the potentially toxic chemical caused Apsey to develop multiple gastrointestinal tract infections. As a result, Apsey developed a hernia and had to undergo several rounds of surgery to correct the problems she had developed.

Have you or a loved one suffered injury or harm as a result of medical negligence? 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.

Victim of Operating Room Fire Awarded $1.3 Million in Ohio Case

When 20-year-old Lauren Wargo arrived at the plastic surgery center operated by Dr. Bryan Michelow for a simple mole removal procedure, she hoped to emerge from the procedure with an unsullied complexion and improved self-confidence. However, a fire broke out during the procedure, causing Wargo to sustain second-degree burns over her face and neck.

Wargo, under sedation, had been receiving oxygen through a face mask during the procedure. When Dr. Michelow began to use a cauterizing device known as a “bovie” to remove the mole, the electrical charge ignited the oxygen in the air, causing flames to erupt.

The jury found that Dr. Michelow failed to notify the anesthesia assistant that he was going to activate the bovie and to turn off the oxygen, as is standard practice. As a result, the jury in the case attributed 100% of the blame for the incident to the doctor. Furthermore, it was also found that Dr. Michelow later tried to conceal his mistake and lied to Wargo and her family about the events leading up to the fire, prompting them to add an additional $425,000 in punitive damages.

Have you or a loved one fallen victim to medical malpractice? We can help you determine the best course of action in your case. 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 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.

Malpractice Suit Filed in Death of West Virginia Infant

West Virginia mother Sara Norman thought she was doing the right thing by taking her ill infant, Lainey, to a local emergency room for treatment after she was vomiting green-hued bile and acting lethargic. However, according to a recent wrongful death claim filed in the case, the lackadaisical medical treatment that was afforded to Lainey at the Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital set off a chain of events that led to the infant’s demise.

Although Lainey’s troubling symptoms were noted and several diagnostic tests were performed, physician Andrew Hughes chose to discharge the infant without ascertaining the cause of her illness. The problem was subsequently found to be a bowel obstruction, but by the time the diagnosis was made, Lainey had suffered multiple organ failure and soon passed away.

Have you or a family member suffered due to a medical practitioner’s carelessness or mistake? 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.

Medical Malpractice Suit Ends with $2.5 Million Settlement

When Kentucky resident Sophia Savage was admitted to the Three Rivers Medical Center facility for a hysterectomy in 2001, she had no idea that her medical problems would worsen as a result of the procedure she was about to undergo. However, due to a medical mishap that left a surgical sponge in her abdomen after the procedure was over, that’s exactly what happened. Fours year later, ongoing complaints of abdominal pain led to a series of x-rays, which revealed that a surgical sponge that had been left behind had fused with her lower intestines. Surgeons were forced to remove nearly 50 centimeters of her small intestine to resolve the problem, although Savage still experiences ongoing gastrointestinal distress related to the incident. A jury awarded her $1.9 million for past and future pain and suffering, as well as $65,968 for medical expenses. Savage’s husband was awarded $500,000 for loss of consortium.

Have you or a loved one been impacted by medical malpractice? 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.

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.

Family Files Suit in Florida Wrongful Death Case

Florida resident Ronald Carl arrived at Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville last summer to receive treatment for what doctors diagnosed as a simple boil. In keeping with standard treatment protocols, Carl was prescribed a course of antibiotics and sent home. Several days later, Carl returned to the hospital, this time to receive treatment for unstable blood sugar levels. During this visit, a culture was taken of the infected wound, and lab tests determined that Carl was infected with the strain of staph known as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. However, the patient was not informed of this diagnosis and the information was not added to his medical record. Carl was readmitted to the hospital two months later, and died in the ICU within 24 hours of his arrival. Carl’s surviving family members recently filed a suit against the doctors who treated the patient, claiming both wrongful death and medical malpractice.

Have you or a loved one been harmed by medical malpractice? 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.

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.

Washington Family Awarded $9 Million in Death of Son

In 2006, 12-year-old Andrew Muno died as he was undergoing surgery to repair a severe wound on his arm. The wrongful death suit filed by his parents claimed that the anesthesiologists assigned to the surgery should have requested assistance when Andrew began to experience difficulty breathing. It was later determined that the respiratory arrest was linked to an allergic reaction to an antibiotic Muno received prior to the operation. A jury awarded $7.5 million in the case, and more than two million dollars in interest earned during the appeal process was also added to the award.

Has your family suffered as a result of a medical mistake? Let a member of our team help walk you through 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.

Workplace Slip-and-Fall Injury Results in Six-Figure Settlement

After falling in a workplace accident in 2006, Missouri resident John R. Brooks was initially taken to a hospital emergency room and was later referred to Freeman OccuMed Hospital. The occupational medical specialists assigned to the case did not detect multiple rib fractures that had led to internal bleeding in Brooks’ chest and eventually led to a dangerous condition known as a hemothorax. On multiple occasions, these problems were overlooked and Brooks was directed to return to work. The jury in the case agreed that these actions were consistent with malpractice, and Brooks was awarded over $500,000 in total compensation in the case.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a slip-and-fall incident? If so, you need the advice and expertise of an experienced personal injury lawyer. 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.