Firm Results

Lou La Cava and Barbara Chapman obtained a defense verdict for a hospital in a three week medical malpractice wrongful death case tried in Hillsborough County. The plaintiff alleged the hospital nurses were negligent in failing to identify signs and symptoms of a post operative bleed. It was further argued that the hospital staff failed to carry out Stat orders in a timely manner contributing to the delay in diagnosis of severe postoperative bleeding and the death of the patient. The decedent was survived by his wife and an adult disabled son. After the 3 week trial the jury returned a defense verdict finding there was no negligence on the part of the hospital that was a legal cause of the death of the patient.

Lou La Cava and Barbara Chapman received a defense verdict in a medical malpractice case tried in Hillsborough County. Plaintiff alleged a hospital was negligent as a result of its ICU nurse not appropriately performing neurological examinations on a sedated ventilated patient. Plaintiff argued the nurse should have reduced the patient’s sedation in order to determine his neurologic status. They further alleged if that was done she would have discovered that the Plaintiff was paralyzed which would have resulted in evaluation by a neurosurgeon. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with a thoracic spinal epidural abscess. He ended up a quadriplegic and ventilator dependent. Plaintiff argued that earlier surgery would have improved the patient’s outcome. The patient ultimately made a decision he could not continue to live with his condition. He decided to have the ventilator removed and passed away. After a 9 day trial the jury returned a verdict finding the hospital was not negligent and did not cause the patient’s death.

Lou La Cava and David Young obtained a dismissal for their emergency medicine physician client in a medical malpractice wrongful death case in Hillsborough County. The Plaintiff alleged the emergency room physician failed to diagnose and treat influenza in a patient with a compromised immune system during an emergency room visit. The defense contended the physician’s care was appropriate and a decision was made that no money would be offered and the case would be tried. While several co-defendants represented by other attorneys settled out of the case, the ER physician was dismissed without a settlement payment made on his behalf.

Lou La Cava obtained a dismissal with prejudice for his cardiologist client. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant inappropriately ordered heparin for a patient after the patient had informed the hospital medical staff he did not want to be treated with heparin. The heparin was ordered due to the patient being in atrial fibrillation. The patient subsequently suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and was severely neurologically impaired. After several years of vigorously defending the case, the plaintiff agreed to dismiss the doctor from the case without any settlement payment.

Lou La Cava and Vicki Jobling tried a brain damaged baby case in Hillsborough County that resulted in a hung jury. The plaintiff alleged negligence on the part of the ob/gyn in failing to timely deliver the baby which resulted in severe neurological injury. The defense argued that the treatment rendered was appropriate. The jury was deadlocked 4 to 2 in favor of the defense.