Shirley Bissell v. Li Poa
Published: May 10, 2005 | Result Date: Jan. 25, 2005 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 128670 Verdict – $0
Judge
Court
Butte Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Maria L. Winter
(Leonard & Lyde)
D. Marc Lyde
(Leonard & Lyde)
Experts
Plaintiff
Henry J. Fee
(medical)
Frederick Watson
(medical)
Defendant
Thomas A. Ports
(medical)
J. Nilas Young
(medical)
Facts
Shirley Bissell, 57, went to Enloe Hospital in Chico with unstable angina. Cardiologist Frederick Watson performed an angiography which revealed severe, multi-vessel coronary artery disease. Bissell was referred to cardiothoracic surgeon Li Poa for surgical revascularization. Poa performed coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery on Bissell. This involved grafting of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) onto her left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Difficulties after the operation required a repeat angiography by Watson. This revealed an acute occlusion of the LIMA graft at its midpoint. Due to occlusion of the LIMA and the LAD, Bissell suffered a myocardial infarction, which reduced her left ventricular function from the normal 60 percent to 30 percent. Bissell was discharged from the hospital in stable condition. She sued Poa, alleging medical malpractice.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff demanded $150,000, reduced to $125,000. The defendant offered waiver of costs in exchange for dismissal (C.C.P. Section 998).
Specials in Evidence
$62,000
Injuries
The plaintiff claimed that her heart attack caused impaired ventricular function. She also claimed that she suffered from fatigue, depression and a decreased life expectancy.
Result
Defense
Deliberation
45 minutes
Poll
12-0 (no negligence)
Length
seven days
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