Fatimah Abdulahad v. Hollywood Community Hospital et al.
Published: Feb. 15, 1997 | Result Date: Jan. 30, 1997 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC141798 – $100,000
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Daniel P. Powell
(Thon, Beck, Vanni, Callahan & Powell)
Defendant
Steven E. Kushner
(Dummit, Buchholz & Trapp)
Experts
Plaintiff
Allan Newhoff
(medical)
Leona Martin
(medical)
Defendant
Edward Livingston
(medical)
Facts
On Oct. 28, 1994, plaintiff Fatimah Abdulahad, a 51-year-old registered nurse, went to Hollywood Community Hospital for weight reduction gastroplasty surgery. The defendant surgeon (settled) performed the operation. A surgical sponge was left inside the plaintiff's body. Ten months later, while in Arizona, the sponge was discovered during a medical work-up to investigate the cause of then plaintiff's malfunctioning gastroplasty. The plaintiff underwent a second surgery, during which the sponge was removed and the gastroplasty was repaired. The plaintiff brought this action against Hollywood Community Hospital and the surgeon (settled) based on medical malpractice and negligence theories of recovery. The defendant surgeon settled for $25,000 prior to trial.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made a final settlement demand for $95,000 (per the plaintiff) or $250,000 (per the defendants). The defendant hospital made a settlement offer of $60,000 (per the defendant hospital) or $85,000 (per the plaintiff).
Injuries
The plaintiff alleged that a surgical sponge was left inside her body after gastroplasty surgery and that she required to undergo a second surgery to retrieve the sponge.
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately one year and one month after the case was filed.
Deliberation
________ hours
Poll
____________ (#s pls.)
Length
3 days
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