News & Insights

Jury Returns a Defense Verdict for Lightfoot’s Client in a Medical Malpractice Case

May 11, 2017

Mike Bell, Melody Eagan, and John Baker recently obtained a defense verdict in favor of a family practitioner and her practice groups in a wrongful death suit in Jefferson County, Alabama.  The plaintiff, the patient’s widow, alleged that the physician breached the standard of care and was negligent in the dosage and types of medication given for weight loss and hormone treatment.  Approximately two months after the physician’s treatment plan was implemented, the patient became ill and passed away, despite the fact that he was treated in an intensive care unit shortly after becoming sick.  The plaintiff claimed that the physician’s treatment and care caused the illness and eventual death.  Plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to award $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 in damages in closing argument. After a seven-day trial in which eight physicians testified, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants after deliberating for less than an hour.