Gail Corcoran v. Douglas Snow, D.O.; Highline Emergency Physicians, Inc.; Highline Community Hospital
Published: May 23, 1998 | Result Date: Mar. 4, 1998 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 962242454SEA – $546,000
Judge
Court
King Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
mJ. Ward Kennedy
(medical)
Anthony J. Choppa
(technical)
Richard Cummins M.D.
(medical)
Robert Patton
(technical)
Kent Gershengorn
(medical)
Kathy Crump
(medical)
Defendant
Peggy Goldman
(medical)
Jacob Olson
(medical)
Jacob Heller
(medical)
Facts
On May 14, 1994, plaintiff Gail Corcoran, a 50-year-old counterperson employed by Costco, Inc., began having severe back pain at about 5 a.m. At 6:30 a.m., she called her daughter who called 911. She was taken by ambulance to defendant Highline Community Hospital where she was examined by defendant Dr. Douglas Snow, an osteopath. She was experiencing posterior chest pain, in her upper back, radiating down both arms, shortness of breath, sweating, elevated blood pressure and rapid heart rate. She was a smoker and both her parents died of heart disease. She had diminished breath sounds, and a chest X-ray showed bilateral pleural effusions (an enlarged heart) and possible congestive heart failure. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendants based on a negligence theory of recovery.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made a settlement demand for $500,000. The defendants made a final settlement offer of $250,000 and, per plaintiff, may have been willing to go up to $300,000.
Injuries
The plaintiff alleged an undiagnosed massive myocardial infarction which caused her to lose the function of + of her heart muscle.
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately one year and six months after the case was filed. A mediation was held before Hon. Charles Burdell of Judicial Dispute Resolution Inc., resulting in a settlement offer of $225,000 by the defendants. The jury made a specific and unanimous finding of negligence on the part of Snow and Highline Emergency Physicians Inc., and a specific and unanimous finding of negligence by Highline Community Hospital in its privileging and supervision of Snow.
Deliberation
four days
Poll
12-0
Length
13 days
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