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Personal Injury
Medical Malpractice
Wrongful Death

Ella Washam v. Heart Institute of the Desert, et al.

Published: Dec. 12, 1998 | Result Date: Oct. 27, 1998 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: 086715 Verdict –  $0

Judge

Arthur S. Block

Court

Riverside Superior Indio


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Steven B. Stevens
(Michels & Lew)


Defendant

Deborah O. deBoer
(Kramer, deBoer & Keane)


Experts

Plaintiff

Eugene I. Saxon
(medical)

Defendant

Jay N. Schapira M.D.
(medical)

Facts

Plaintiff alleged that on Dec. 18, 1994, defendant Dr. Michael Radin, represented to plaintiff's decedent Orlin Washam, plaintiff's husband, that decedent needed to have bypass surgery, that it would be safe to wait until Dec. 21, to have the surgery and that surgeons and treatment facilities would be available on that date. The plaintiff further alleged that Dr. Jack Sternlieb and Radin, both individually and on behalf of defendant Heart Institute of the Desert, represented to plaintiff and decedent later on December 18 that decedent needed to have bypass surgery, that it would be safe for him to postpone the surgery until December 23, and that surgeons and treatment facilities would be available for surgery on that date. Finally, the plaintiff alleged that Drs. Jack Sternlieb and John Macoviak, both individually and on behalf of defendant Heart Institute of the Desert, represented to plaintiff and decedent on December 21, that decedent needed to have bypass surgery, that it would be safe for him to postpone the surgery until December 28 and that surgeons and treatment facilities would be available for his surgery on that date. The plaintiff brought this wrongful death action against the defendants based on a medical negligence theory of recovery.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiff made a settlement demand for $150,000. The defendants made no offer.

Injuries

Death of a husband.

Other Information

The verdict was reached approximately two years and 10 months after the case was filed.

Deliberation

one hour

Poll

12-0

Length

nine days


#89820

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