John Doe v Hospital

In 1996 when Plaintiff was 26 years old he suffered a burn and was hospitalized as a result.  In order to rule out pneumonia, chest x-rays were taken. These x-rays revealed a 3cm mass, suspiciopus for cancer and this was noted in the radiologist's reports.  The attending physician failed to order a consult regarding this finding and did not inform the patient of this finding.

 In 1999, two and half years later, Plaintiff was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, which is a form of lymphoma that if caught early is highly curable.  However, the mass had grown from 3cm to 14cm when rediscovered in 1999. Due to the increased siza of the massand the fact that it had spread to other lymph nodes, Plaintiff's cancer was refractory to treatment including chemotherapy, radiation and bone marrow transplant.

Plaintiff was the sole bread winner of his family which included his wife, two blood children and two step-children.

Plaintiff was represented by Douglas Shapiro.  The case settled for 2.9 million dollars. Sadly, Plaintiff passed away only 2 days after the settlement was finalized.

Jane Doe v Home Health Care Company

Plaintiff was a women in her late 70s suffering from servere rheumotioid arthritis which kept her wheelchair and bed bound.  She also suffered from dementia.  She lived with her son and received skilled nursing care visits periodically at home.  In addition, a home health care agency provided a health aide to attend to the Plaintiff on those occasions when her son was out of the house.

 On a night when the home health aide was taking care of the Plaintiff while the son was out bowling the Plaintiff fell from her wheelchair while being transported from chair to bed and suffered multiple fractures of both femurs.  In a panic, the home health aide left the home without obtaining emergency medical care for the Plaintiff.  The son returned home approximately an hour later to find his mother in bed in pain.  She was transported to the hospital where her right leg had to be amputated due to the severity of the fractures particularly given the osteoporosis of her bones.  The case was mediated on three occasions.  The first two were while it was being handled by a different attorney and it mediated then for $90,000 and $75,000.  The third mediation resulted in a mediation of $240,000.00 and the case was subsequently settle for $275,000.00. Plaintiff was represented by Douglas Shapiro.

Jane Doe v. Social Club

Plaintiff was a 15 year old boy when in violation of statutes governing employment of minors he was hired as a bus boy ta a well-respected Detroit social club.  While at work, Plaintiff was sexually assaulted by a co-employee, a 21 year old host.  Unfortunately, while the case was pending, the Michigan Supreme Court drastically changed the applicable sexual harassment laws in Michigan which virtually wiped out Plaintiff`s cause of action.  The case was settled for $162,500.00.  The Plaintiff was represented by Douglas Shapiro.

Jane Doe v. Physician

Plaintiff, a woman in her mid 50s was on Social Security disability for approximately 10 years due to unrelenting Crohn disease which is an inflammatory bowel condition.  During a Crohn`s flare in 1998 she was admitted to her local hospital where a bowel obstruction was diagnosed and surgery performed.  The bowel leaked following surgery and rather than externalizing the bowel which is required in such a situation in order to prevent peritonitis and to allow the bowel to heal, the surgeon attempted torepair it and place it back inside her belly.  As a result, Plaintiff suffered repeated infections and had to undergo an additional four surgeries and lost a significant portion of bowel resulting in worsening of her inflammatory bowel disease.  Since Plaintiff was already on Social Security disability there were no wage losses.  The case was settled for $375,000.00 Plaintiff was represented by Douglas Shapiro.

Anonymous v. Anonymous

Plaintiff went to a dermatology clinic and recieved laser treatments to her skin.  These laser treatments are intended to literally burn off a layer of skin.  The resultant healing process tightens the skin and thereby eliminiates wrinkles.  The physician either used a higher power laser, or applied it incorrectly so that he Plaintiff received servere and significant burns on her lips and chin.  She required several plastic surgeries and has more to go in the future.  This case is an examle of recovery being limited by the cap on non-economic damages.  It settled for $300,000.00 by Andrew Muth.

Estate of Baby Doe v. Hospital

Mother of decedent baby was admitted to defendant hospital for a full term delivery.  At about 6pm upon admission, it was noted that her amniotic fluid was meconium stained.  Her vital signs, including blood pressure and urninalysis, which would have indicated a distressed fetus, were not taken.  Electronic fetal monitoring showed repeated decelerations.  The attending physician was called at home at 6:45 p.m. but given only partial information.  The baby was continuously bradycardic from 8:10 p.m.  The doctor arrived at 8:20 pm.  No casesarean was attempted.  The baby was delivered at 8:50 pm without vital signs, was revived and died after 16 hours.  Early in the case, Plaintiff filed a motion arguing that medical malpractice caps did not apply in wrongful death cases.  The trial court granted the motion.  The case then settled for $315,000.00 without any discovery being conducted.  Plaintiff`s were represented by Douglas Shapiro and Andrew Muth.