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Personal Injury (Non-Vehicular)
Medical Malpractice
Wrongful Death

Guadalupe and Francisco Dominguez v. Vinod Assomull, M.D.

Published: Mar. 19, 1994 | Result Date: Dec. 22, 1993 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: PC001139 –  $0

Judge

Malcolm H. Mackey

Court

L.A. Superior San Fernando


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Emmett J. Gantz


Defendant

Ted H. O'Leary


Experts

Plaintiff

John Uphold
(medical)

Mayer Davidson
(medical)

Peter Formuzis Ph.D.
(technical)

Defendant

Peter A. Singer M.D.
(medical)

David Abrams
(medical)

Facts

On February 19, 1988, the patient Francisco Dominguez, a 33-year-old construction drywall installer with no medical history, saw Dr. Robert Flores, a family practitioner, with complaints of thirst, frequent urination, and lethargy. He sent the patient by paramedics to the Holy Cross Hospital emergency room where tests showed blood sugar of 1,950 with a diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The patient was comatose and admitted to ICU under the care of Defendant Dr. Vinod Assomull, a nephrologist. He died 8 hours later of respiratory and cardiac arrest. Plaintiffs were his widow, Guadalupe, and four minor children.

Settlement Discussions

Defendant nephrologist contended that he made no offers and Plaintiffs' original demand was $650,000 reduced to $250,000 (as to this Defendant).

Specials in Evidence

$140,000 $591,000

Damages

Plaintiffs asked the jury to award $1,300,000.

Injuries

Death of spouse, father.

Other Information

The Co-defendant emergency room doctor was dismissed before trial. Co-defendants hospital and family practitioner (the admitting physician) settled for a combined package of $120,000, during trial.

Deliberation

2 days

Poll

9-3

Length

13 days


#77806

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