Firm Results

Lou La Cava recently obtained a ruling in his client’s favor in an administrative hearing. The administrative complaint filed by the Department of Health alleged that the physician performed the wrong surgery, practiced below the standard of care and did not appropriately document the medical chart. The administrative law judge found in favor of the physician, and the order was accepted by the Board of Medicine.

Jason Azzarone and Kari Jacobson obtained a defense verdict in a negligence case against a major hotel chain in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. The Plaintiff alleged that the hotel was negligent in the design and maintenance of its docks, resulting in the sinking of his yacht. The Defendant maintained that the docks were properly designed and maintained, and further argued that the incident was caused by an Act of God. Following a five day trial, the jury returned a verdict, agreeing that the incident was caused by an Act of God.

Lou La Cava and David Young obtained a defense verdict in a wrongful death case tried in Pinellas County. The Plaintiff alleged the Defendant emergency room doctor failed to closely monitor a patient who arrived in the emergency room with atrial fibrillation and tachycardia. She did not want electrical cardioversion, so attempts were made to convert her to a normal sinus rhythm with medications. While medications were infusing, the patient had an unwitnessed cardiac arrest. While they were able to resuscitate the patient, she ended up with brain damage and ultimately died. She was 39 years old and had four minor children. The jury returned a verdict finding the emergency room doctor was not negligent.

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.

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.