Hansen and Frieden Secure Defense Verdict

        SRNM partner Jim Hansen and associate Katherine Frieden recently secured a defense verdict for a surgeon SRNM was representing at trial in McDonough County, Macomb, IL. The case stemmed from treatment in November 2019. The patient had undergone a Nissen Fundoplication surgery performed by the surgeon at McDonough District Hospital ("MDH"). The patient was seen post-op day one by our physician in the early morning hours when rounding. The patient had a normal abdominal exam. Late in the evening, into the early morning hours the following day, the patient's condition began to deteriorate. The patient was transferred for kidney failure due to lab results and further examination after the surgeon was called into the hospital at approximately 5:00 a.m. Our client arranged for a transfer to a regional hospital and spoke with the accepting ICU physician. The patient was intubated and taken by helicopter to the regional hospital. The patient ultimately received a surgical consultation after arrival at the second hospital. An emergency abdominal surgery was performed and the patient died on post-op day five while at the second hospital.

           Plaintiff alleged our client negligently performed the surgery, failed to appreciate an intra-abdominal injury created during the surgery, failed to take the patient back for exploratory surgery and failed to timely transfer the patient with proper communication to the outside accepting physician. The Plaintiff also sued MDH, the accepting physician and regional hospital. The case was tried over a period of seven days. The testimony included expert testimony from two Plaintiff's experts and three defense experts. The jury deliberated for an hour and a half before rendering a not guilty verdict on behalf of all Defendants.