Judith Gavin v. Pacificare Cardiovascular Association Medical Group Inc., Herbert Lee, M.D., Talbert Medical Group Inc., Daisy Guevara, M.D., et al.
Published: Jan. 1, 2000 | Result Date: Sep. 15, 1999 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC177625 Verdict – $0
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Norwalk
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Deborah S. Tropp
(McNeil, Tropp & Braun LLP)
Experts
Plaintiff
Douglas R. Zusman
(medical)
Michael Radin
(medical)
Carl T. Boylen
(medical)
Defendant
Ralph Hutchings
(medical)
David S. Cannom
(medical)
William P. Klein
(Klein Law Group LLP)
(medical)
Facts
On July 31, 1996, Marjorie McMillen, age 75, suffered a heart attack and came under the emergent care of Dr. Stephen Berberich, a cardiologist. Dr. Berberich elected not to administer thrombolytic therapy or perform urgent angioplasty based on his timing of the infarct as greater than 18 hours since onset. Instead, he stabilized the patient and performed an angiogram the following morning. He diagnosed a 100 percent block of the left anterior descending and a 90 percent block of the dominant right coronary. He transferred the patient to a facility with no cath laboratory and no surgical capabilities. At Charter hospital, the patient's care was assured. The plaintiff, the decedent's daughter, brought this action against the defendant based on medical malpractice.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff demanded $250,000. The defendants offered $50,000.
Damages
$250,000
Deliberation
four hours
Poll
10-2 (for Dr. Herbert Lee), 11-1 (Dr. Daisy Guevara and Dr. Ernesto Rubio), 12-0 (Dr. Stephen Berberich and Dr. Steven Leven)
Length
13 days
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