Nancy Fisher, Teresa Kaiser, Thomas Pakele, and Patrick Pakele v. Elliott Leonhardt M.D.; Granada Hills Medical Group; et al.
Published: May 6, 1995 | Result Date: Jan. 31, 1995 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: PC000172 – $0
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior San Fernando
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Mike Arias
(Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team LLP)
Defendant
John H. Dodd
(Craddick, Candland & Conti)
Experts
Plaintiff
Robert Uyeda
(medical)
Elliott Hinkes
(medical)
John R. Marshall
(medical)
Victor Eysselein
(medical)
Defendant
W. James Henneberg
(medical)
John E. Kurnick
(medical)
Facts
In 1983 Joyce Pakele, a 53-year-old bank employee presented to Defendant Dr. Elliott Leonhardt, M.D., OB/GYN, for her regular annual visit. She complained of bright red blood on her toilet tissue post bowel movement, but only during her menstrual cycle, which at the time was occurring every 3-to-4 months due to menopause. Defendant allegedly told this patient that it was his opinion that the condition was probably benign, but in order to rule out something more serious, he recommended a barium enema and sigmoidoscopy, which she refused; she allegedly promised to return at the first sign of bleeding. Between 1983 and 1988, this patient returned numerous times to Defendant Granada Hills Medical Group, but without complaints of further bleeding. In 1988, she again complained of bleeding and was referred to a surgeon who diagnosed colon cancer with liver metastasis. She died 2 years later; she was 60 years of age. Plaintiffs were her two sons and two daughters.
Settlement Discussions
Defendants contend they made no offers and Plaintiffs demanded $299,999. Plaintiffs contend their demand was $250,000.
Specials in Evidence
not disclosed
Injuries
Death of mother.
Deliberation
3 hours
Poll
9-3
Length
10 days
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