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Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular)
Professional Negligence
Medical Malpractice

Charlotte Sugar v. Regents of the University of California

Published: Feb. 12, 2000 | Result Date: Sep. 7, 1999 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: SC039645 Verdict –  $0

Judge

Wendell E. Mortimer Jr.

Court

L.A. Superior Central


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Fred H. Middaugh


Defendant

N. Denise Taylor
(Taylor DeMarco LLP)


Experts

Plaintiff

Michael S. Sinel
(medical)

Frank C. Taylor
(technical)

William O'Riordan
(medical)

Joshua P. Prager M.D.
(medical)

Defendant

Jerald H. Udinsky
(technical)

George A. Macer Jr., M.D.
(medical)

Roy Antelyes
(medical)

Facts

On Aug. 18, 1994, plaintiff, a 33-year-old veterinarian, was seen and treated at the UCLA emergency room for a serious dog bite to her left thumb, with puncture wounds through the thumb nail and the volar aspect of the thumb. She was treated conservatively with cleansing, a tetanus shot and antibiotics. She returned to the emergency room on August 22 for worsening pain. The thumb nail was removed, with drainage of an abscess. Incision and debridement to the volar aspect of the thumb was performed as well. A median nerve block was required for this procedure because of the plaintiff's extreme pain. She was admitted to the hospital and treated with IV antibiotics, and elevation in a Meals handstand. Subsequently, the plaintiff developed symptoms of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, carpal tunnel's syndrome, overuse syndrome and chronic pain. She can no longer work as a veterinarian and is being retrained as a social worker. She had undergone a carpal tunnel syndrome and implantation of a spinal cord stimulator for the RSD.

Specials in Evidence

$80,600 $2,228,500

Injuries

Carpal tunnel syndrome on the left and right, RSD, overuse syndrome and chronic pain.

Deliberation

four hours

Poll

11-1

Length

10 days


#117336

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