Verdicts and Settlements

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VERDICT/SETTLEMENT

Facts/Liability:

This was a medical negligence case arising from the mismanaged dermatology care provided by a nurse practitioner to our 80-year old male client, which allowed his invasive squamous cell carcinoma to go undiagnosed and untreated for almost a year and a half, allowing it to metastasize throughout his head and neck and causing his premature death. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendant nurse practitioner provided inadequate treatment to the patient and failed to appropriately respond to the pathology report diagnosing invasive squamous cell carcinoma by sending the plaintiff for definitive treatment. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendant nurse practitioner failed to recognize that she was treating a high risk lesion in a high risk patient with a high risk for recurrence, which required definitive treatment by referral to a surgeon for wide excision with post operative margin assessment or Mohs surgery.  The defendant denied negligence.

Injuries:

The plaintiff underwent aggressive surgical and chemotherapeutic interventions.  Despite aggressive subsequent treatment, the plaintiff died from complications from the extensive metastatic disease throughout his brain, skull base, sphenoid bone, orbital apex and other surrounding structures of the head and neck.  Before his death, the plaintiff underwent four invasive head and neck surgeries, which caused permanent scarring and facial disfigurement, he under went extended courses of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and endured extreme pain and suffering for the last two years of his life.  The plaintiff died prematurely, succumbing to the disease in late Fall 2011.  The plaintiff’s wife suffered a devastating loss of consortium.

Specials (if any):

Past Medical Expenses:           $442,986.04

Verdict/Settlement:

Settled after suit but prior to the screening panel hearing for a confidential amount.

Plaintiff’s Experts (if any): Confidential

Defense Experts (if any): Confidential

Plaintiff’s Counsel (please include name and firm):

Kevin F. Dugan, Esquire

Eva H. Bleich, Esquire

Holly B. Haines, Esquire
Abramson, Brown & Dugan

1819 Elm Street

Manchester, NH 03104

Defense Counsel (please include name and firm): Anonymous

Insurance Carrier (if relevant): Anonymous

Name of Case/County: Anonymous

Date of Injury: 2009(diagnosis) 2011 (death)

Date of Verdict or Settlement: 2012

Mark Abramson
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