La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Jason Azzarone and Barbara Chapman were successful in arguing to the Second District Court of Appeal

Jason Azzarone and Barbara Chapman were successful in arguing to the Second District Court of Appeal that the trial court erred in denying a motion to dismiss for failure to comply with the medical malpractice presuit screening requirements in Corbo v. Garcia, 949 So. 2d 366 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007). The Plaintiff allegedly received burns to her arms when she was connected to a physical therapy machine that provided electrical stimulation. The Plaintiff brought a negligence action against the physical therapist and his practice alleging failure to properly maintain the machine. The Second District Court of Appeal agreed that the Plaintiff’s claim arose out of the rendering of medical treatment and thus was subject to the presuit screening requirements.

La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava and Justine Adamski obtained a defense verdict after a two-week trial

Lou La Cava and Justine Adamski obtained a defense verdict after a two-week trial. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant cardiothoracic surgeon who performed a 5-vessel bypass surgery negligently failed to restart heparin when the Plaintiff developed acute bilateral lower extremity ischemia. The Plaintiff also claimed the pulmonologist who was consulted due to respiratory problems was also negligent (the pulmonologist was represented by another attorney). The Plaintiff had been placed on heparin for deep vein thrombosis and was taken off the heparin due to a suspected GI bleed. The Plaintiff ended up requiring bilateral below-the-knee amputations. After approximately an hour and fifteen minutes, the jury returned a verdict finding the defendant physicians were not negligent.

La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava and Justine Adamski received a defense verdict after a 6-day trial in Sebring

Lou La Cava and Justine Adamski received a defense verdict after a 6-day trial in Sebring, Florida. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant was negligent for performing an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) which they argued was not indicated. Plaintiff also alleged the procedure which could not be completed was performed negligently and resulted in the complication of acute pancreatitis. Finally, the Plaintiff argued that the complication was negligently treated resulting in the death of the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff asked for nearly 3 million dollars in damages. The jury returned a verdict in less than two hours finding that the Defendant was not negligent.

La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava and Justine Adamski obtained dismissal after two weeks

Lou La Cava and Justine Adamski obtained a dismissal of their client after two weeks and one day of trial. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant was negligent in not diagnosing and treating a pulmonary embolism resulting in death. The decedent left three survivors. The Plaintiff continued to try the case against the remaining defendants.

La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava and Jim Wetzel obtained defense verdict in Hillsborough County 2006

Lou La Cava and Jim Wetzel obtained a defense verdict in a case tried in Hillsborough County. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant was negligent in not timely diagnosing an esophageal tear. Plaintiff alleged permanent injuries, scarring, loss wages and pain and suffering. The jury returned a verdict finding the doctor not negligent.

La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava and Kari Jacobson obtained c-section verdict

Lou La Cava and Kari Jacobson obtained a defense verdict in a case where the Plaintiffs alleged that a delay in performing a c-section caused the baby to be born with brain damage. The Defendants argued that the child was born with autism as a result of developmental malformations in the first or second trimester of the pregnancy. After a 7-day trial the jury returned a verdict finding the two doctors involved in the care of the patient not negligent. The jury returned the verdict after 40 minutes of deliberations.

La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava and David Young obtained a defense verdict in Pinellas County Oct. 2005

Lou La Cava and David Young obtained a defense verdict in Pinellas County. The Plaintiff alleged the Defendant was negligent for not diagnosing a ruptured Achilles tendon resulting in permanent injury due to the delay. The jury determined that the Defendant was not negligent, returning a verdict for the defense.

La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava received a defense verdict in Clearwater

Lou La Cava obtained a defense verdict in a two-week case in Clearwater, Florida. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant neurologist failed to order a brain MRI while treating the Plaintiff for a history of headaches and neck pain. The Plaintiff was ultimately diagnosed with a very large pituitary tumor which could not be totally removed due to its size and involvement with other structures. The Plaintiff asked the jury to award in excess of 10 million dollars. The jury returned a verdict finding the Defendant not negligent.

La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava Obtains A Defense Verdict – Hillsborough County

Lou La Cava obtained a defense verdict in a case tried in Hillsborough County. The Plaintiff alleged the Defendant did not aggressively treat an infection after abdominal hernia surgery with mesh. Plaintiff went on to have his mesh removed resulting in loss of abdominal domain requiring additional surgery. Plaintiff alleged since the surgery he was totally disabled with chronic pain. In defense it was argued that the infection was appropriately treated, but in spite of that the mesh infection could not be cured which is a known complication of the procedure. The jury found no liability on the part of the Defendant.

La Cava & Jacobson, P.A.

Lou La Cava and David Young Obtain a Defense Cerdict In A Wrongful Death Case

Lou La Cava and David Young obtained a defense verdict in a wrongful death case that also included claims by four family members of intentional infliction of emotional distress arising out of the manner in which they discovered that the decedent had died. The Plaintiffs alleged that our insured physician negligently failed to diagnose a lacerated spleen leading to death in the emergency room 4 hours after arrival. The defense successfully argued that our insured physician appropriately considered the rule-out diagnosis of lacerated spleen but the radiologist misread the CT as showing no solid organ injury. The defense also emphasized that trauma surgeons had decided to admit the patient for observation and that it was the hospital whose employees showed the family the decedent’s body without them knowing he was dead. The Plaintiffs asked the jury for a verdict in the multi-millions. The jury returned their verdict finding no liability on the part of our insured physician on both the wrongful death claim and the intentional infliction claim in just under two hours.