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Personal Injury
Medical Malpractice
Negligence

Souksavnh Luangsi, Bryan Luangsi, et al. v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., Kaiser Foundations Hospitals, et al.

Published: Jun. 17, 2003 | Result Date: Feb. 4, 2003 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: DUM0002603 Arbitration –  $0

Judge

James J. Alfano

Court

Case Not Filed


Attorneys

Plaintiff

W. Douglas Easton


Defendant

Michael J. Trotter
(Carroll, Kelly, Trotter & Franzen)


Experts

Plaintiff

Stephen T. Riley
(technical)

John M. Robertson
(medical)

Raymond L. Ricci M.D.
(medical)

Defendant

Ted Vavoulis
(technical)

Robert L. Shuman M.D.
(medical)

Stanley K. Kalter
(medical)

Facts

The 40-year-old decedent, presented to Kaiser ER on Nov. 6, 1999 with chest pain after lifting heavy bricks. The pain was worse on inspiration and was relieved by position. The vital signs were normal as was an EKG. Both the nurse and doctor elicited chest well tenderness. The Kaiser physician diagnosed costochondritis and prescribed Naprosyn. The next morning, the patient presented to another facility with a bulging neck and difficulty breathing. He was ultimately transferred to Kaiser Bellflower where an x-ray revealed a widened mediastinum and a presumptive diagnosis of an aortic dissection. The patient died shortly after arriving at Kaiser the following morning.

Settlement Discussions

The claimant made a C.C.P. Section 998 demand of $385,000 which was subsequently lowered to $275,000.

Damages

Approximately $500,000 in loss of earnings and $350,000 in loss of household services.


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