.: Auto Accident / Negligence

Name of Case - Blaha v. Estate of Poole
Injuries - Transected aorta, damaged laryngeal nerve
Verdict / Settlement - Settlement Awarded $600,000.00

Additional case information:
Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle which was struck head-on by decedent. The decedent's vehicle crossed the center of Route 751 and struck the vehicle in which Mr. Blaha was a passenger. The plaintiff's transected aorta resulted from a high speed deceleration injury from the impact of the accident. The plaintiff's laryngeal nerve was damaged during the surgery to repair the transected aorta because it was necessary to move the laryngeal nerve in order to reach the aorta.

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.: Wrongful Death / Medical Malpractice

Name of Case - Estate of Lawson v. Medical Facilities of America, d/b/a Hanover Health Care Center
Special Damages - $4,033.36 in funeral expenses
Insurance Company - American Continental
Verdict / Settled - Settlement Awarded $300,000

Additional case Information:
The decedent was a resident at Hanover Health Care Center Nursing Home. She had been in and out of nursing homes. She was 74 years old, and a double above-the-knee amputee with a history of severe diabetes, prior heart problems and prior strokes. Surviving beneficiaries included her husband and seven grown children. On the day of her death, she was found sitting in the floor in front of her wheelchair with a soft belt restraint under her neck and arms. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation due to chest and/or neck compression. Plaintiff contended that the use of the soft belt restraint was in violation of OBRA, and other federal and state regulations.

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.: Personal Injury / Slip-and-fall

Name of Case - Kearse-Jackson v. Farm Fresh, d/b/a The Grocery Store
Injuries - TMJ Syndrome
Verdict / Settlement - Verdict Awarded $1.5 million

Additional case Information:
The plaintiff was shopping at The Grocery Store on Williamsburg Road in Richmond when she slipped and fell on rice spilled in an aisle. In testimony disputed by store employees, another customer said that she had earlier reported the spilled rice to a store employee. The witness had left the store, but went back in when she saw an ambulance arrive. The witness saw that the plaintiff had slipped on the rice, and left her name and address with the plaintiff. She initially was treated for back pain and headaches. Eventually, a physician traced the headaches to TMJ so severe that she could open her jaw only one or two millimeters. Both the plaintiff's physician and the defense witness who conducted the independent medical examination testified to the severity of the TMJ, although they differed in their conclusions about what caused it. The plaintiff underwent four surgeries, including a jaw replacement, which left visible scars. Now she no longer has jaw hinge joints, and she must use a pump device like a car jack to ease her mouth open each morning so she can talk and eat.

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.: Injury / Gross Negligence

Name of Case - Bryson v. City of Richmond
Verdict / Settlement - Amount Confidential (Settlement through Mediation)

Additional case Information:
The city's utility work crew was in the process of repairing a leak in the gas main when it exploded. Ms. Bryson, lived in an apartment directly in front of where the explosion occurred. After the accident, she spent three weeks in the hospital, where for the first 10 days was listed in critical condition. Her two year old daughter was also hospitalized with less serious injuries. The suit was filed charging that the city should have replaced the original gas main, originally installed in 1958, which was reported to have leaks prior to October of 2001. The suit also faults the city for failing to ventilate Ms. Bryson's apartment. After the original gas leaks the residents were advised to shut their doors and windows, and remain in the building. It was these failures that caused the leaks within the apartment building causing the explosion.

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