Plaintiff Sought $8 Million in Damages and Costs
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Josh M. Bloom, Esq., associate; and Gordon Lea, Esq., partner; both of preeminent law firm Lubell Rosen, recently obtained a complete defense verdict and final judgment in favor of the defendants, Panama City, Florida OB/GYN Michael A. Ingram, M.D., and Emerald Coast Obstetrics & Gynecology, Inc. After a four-day trial, the jury ruled in favor of the defendants after only two hours of deliberation.
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The plaintiff was represented by John W. Dill, Esq. and Greg Francis of Morgan & Morgan in Orlando. The case number is 13-001156-CA. The presiding judge was the Honorable Michael C. Overstreet of the Circuit Court of the 14th Judicial Circuit in and for Bay County, Florida.
Plaintiff Jennifer Sheffield sought $8 million in damages, costs and other such relief, claiming that the defendant did not read her ultrasounds correctly. The plaintiff gave birth to a child with Vacterl Syndrome, a disorder that affects many body systems. The plaintiff claimed that she was not afforded the opportunity to terminate the pregnancy, because the ultrasounds were not correctly read.
The plaintiff, a longtime patient of Emerald Coast Obstetrics & Gynecology, Inc., visited the defendant for an ultrasound twice (at 23½ weeks and 27 weeks) in 2010. At both visits, the defendant explained to the plaintiff that the ultrasounds would be limited in results, due to the plaintiff's morbid obesity. Much of the test, including the fetus' brain, heart, face, spine and kidneys, were not visualized or able to be seen in the limited view that resulted. The plaintiff proceeded with the ultrasounds.
Although the plaintiff's counsel brought many medical experts to the stand, it could not be proven that the defendant was negligent in providing correct ultrasound results.
"With our expertise, Mr. Lea and I presented the real facts of this case to the jury," said Bloom. "While the plaintiff's counsel used many expert witnesses to try to convince the jury that our client was negligent, it was apparent that our client had repeatedly and fully informed the plaintiff that her ultrasounds would offer limited results because of her obesity."
"This case exemplifies that it is imperative for doctors to have experienced, knowledgeable attorneys such as Mr. Bloom and Mr. Lea, who have the expertise and experience in medical malpractice cases to understand and explain the facts of a case to a jury," said Mark L. Rosen, Esq., partner at Lubell Rosen.
Lea is a highly-skilled trial lawyer with well over 100 jury trials to verdict. He focuses on medical malpractice defense of doctors, nurses, hospitals, and clinics. For more information about Lea, visit www.lubellrosen.com/attorneys/gordon-lea/.
Bloom is a medical malpractice & health care attorney who actively engages in all aspects of complex, multiparty medical malpractice and regulatory defense. For more information about Bloom, visit www.lubellrosen.com/attorneys/josh-m-bloom-esq/.
About Lubell Rosen
Lubell Rosen is a law firm dedicated to providing full service representation as well as defending and protecting entrepreneurs and business owners, physicians, healthcare professionals and businesses in the healthcare industry. The firm has been named a U.S. Top Ranked Law Firm by FORTUNE Money Magazine. Only the finest attorneys are invited to join the practice. Lubell Rosen's headquarters are located at 200 S. Andrews Ave., Suite 900, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. To reach Lubell Rosen's headquarters, call 954-880-9500. The firm also has offices in Coral Gables, Florida; Syosset, New York; Upper Saddle River, New Jersey; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.lubellrosen.com.
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Durée Ross / Durée & Company, Inc.
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Ana María Colmenares / Durée & Company, Inc.
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