Verdicts
2010
Feb 11: Defense verdict in 2 1/2 hours in shoulder dystocia / brachial plexus injury case against Koskoff, Koskoff, & Bieder, in Stamford, Ct. Plaintiff's attorney asked the jury for over $3 1/2 million. The case, Bacco v. OB/GYN Consultants, was tried before Judge Blawie. Plaintiff's experts were Dr. Adler (New York) and Dr. Borow (Pennsylvania).
2009
Oct 13: Defense verdict, in 20 minutes, in complex neurosurgery case and our 5th great result this year. Jim Biondo obtainedanother great victory against Koskoff, Koskoff, on behalf of a Connecticut neurosurgeon in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiff alleged serious, permanent neurological problems. This is one of many cases where a co-defendant blamed another physician and brought that physician into the case, and then settled, financing the case against the remaining defendant.
June 25: Defense Verdict in complex Anesthesia Case. Jim Newfield won his 7th trial in a row. He obtained a unanimous defense verdict after four weeks of trial, including three days of jury deliberations, in an anesthesia case, Buccheri v. New Britain Anesthesia, before Judge Tancer, in New Britain, Ct. Plaintiffs alleged an overdose of propofol, leading to respiratory depression, oxygen desaturation and cardiac arrest, followed by a stroke with hemiparesis, in connection with an ERCP. The anesthesia was "Monitored Anesthesia Care," also known as "MAC" or "consious sedation." Plaintiff's counsel was Ron Murphy and Roger Kaye, a neurosurgeon. Expert witnesses included neurologists, neuro-radiologists, anesthesiologists, and rehabilitation specialists.
June 22: Nominal damages awarded in response to $5 Million Demand, Waterbury, Ct. Jim Biondo obtained a phenomenal result in Olivero v. Anesthesia Associates, where plaintiffs asked the jury for $5 million, in connection with a bariatric surgery case. The jury found for plaintiffs, but awarded plaintiff less than $90,000, and attributed most damages to a prior defendant who had settled. The case involved bariatric surgery. After the surgeon had settled, plaintiff continued the action against the anesthesiologist, claiming that the anesthesiologist was responsible for a delay in surgically treating hemorrhage, even though the surgeon had left the hospital and delayed returning when paged. Plaintiff claimed years of treatment, including surgery. Plaintiff was represented by both Kathleen Nastri and Josh Koskoff of Koskoff, Koskoff and Bieder.
May 28: Mistrial in cerebral palsy case, Waterbury, Ct. After four weeks of trial, and seven days of jury deliberations (over two weeks), Judge Jane Scholl declared a mistrial in a cerebral palsy case. Plaintiffs were represented by both James Horwitz and Kathleen Nastri, of Koskoff, Koskoff & Beider. The case was brought in 2005 and involved a 2003 delivery. Plaintiff's experts included Dr. Ehrenkranz, a Yale neonatologist, in addition to Dr. Schifrin (OB) and Dr. Pomerance. The case involved histological fetal inflammatory response syndrome in a term infant, with testimony by a placental pathologist and maternal fetal medicine specialist who had done research in fetal inflammatory response syndrome.
Jan. '09: Defense Verdict. Jim Newfield won his 6th trial in a row, in a New York case involving general surgery, pending in Carmel, NY (Putnam Co.), before Judge O'Rourke. In Mead - Crocco v. GYN, plaintiff alleged that defendant, a gynecologist specializing in cancer surgery, negligently perforated the small intestine, during a procedure to search for recurrent ovarian cancer, which was necessary to biopsy before administering adjuvent therapy. The patient was found to have a perforation and peritonitis, and underwent further surgery, and died a few days after the surgery in question.
2008 VERDICTS
Nov. 2008: Defense verdict. Jim Newfield obtained a defense verdict -- following 2 days of deliberations -- in a wrongful death in Hartford, Ct. Plaintiff's atty from Riscassi, Davis. Claim involved failure to diagnose perforation of cardiac arteries on angiogram, causing death of 45-year-old married woman. Czajka v. interventional cardiologist.
Nov. 2008: Defense verdict. Jim Biondo obtained a defense verdict in a wrongful death action in Waterbury, Ct, brought by the Estate of a 44 year old woman. During the performance of an operative hysteroscopy, the surgeon perforated the uterine wall, injuring the iliac vein. Plaintiff also alleged failure to timely administer blood products, and lack of informed consent. Andre v. Danbury Hosp., et al.
Feb, 2008: Plaintiffs' verdict in obstetrical case. Plaintiffs alleged cerebral palsy resulted from a delayed Cesarean Section. Plaintiffs recovered a verdict for over $35 million. An appeal is planned. The case involved "novel" instructions regarding causation. The case, Oram v. Stamford Hospital, was tried before Judge Adams in Stamford, Ct.
2007 Verdicts
Oct 30, 2007: Defense verdict - Physiatry / Naturopathic Medicine: Jim Rosenblum won his third trial this year, in Pils v. Advanced Pain Care. Plaintiff claimed that holistic / naturopathic treatment -- intravenous micronutrient therapy, also known as a Myer's Cocktail -- for chronic pain and fatigue, was contraindicated and unproven, and resulted in complex regional pain syndrome, in a 45 year-old woman. Judge Stodolink. Bridgeport, Ct.
Sept. 28: Defense verdict - Dermatology: Jim Biondo won his 3rd case in a row, in Mettlen. Plaintiffs alleged extensive scarring following procedure to remove tattoo. Plaintiff's expert was defendant's colleague from the defendant's same hospital! Judge D'Andrea. Stamford, Ct
Sept 27: Defense verdict - General Surgery: Jim Newfield won his 4th case in a row, in Bonomo. Plaintiff's expert was Dr. Milsom, a leading colorectal surgeon at New York Hospital. Plaintiffs alleged failure to properly treat pelvic abscess, resulting in colostomy and need for other surgery. Plaintiff's attorney was Steve Jacques (Moore, O'Brien). Judge Adams, Stamford, Ct.
July 18: Defense Verdict - Obstetrics: Jim Rosenblum won the McKiernan case, a shoulder dystocia / Erb's palsy case, after 2-week trial. Plaintiff's experts were Dr. Rice (Ob/GYN), and Dr. Taff (pediatric neurology). Plaintiff's atty Kathleen Nastri (Koskoff, Koskoff). Judge David Tobin, Stamford.
May 1: Defense Verdict - Gynecology: Jim Rosenblum won the Brazier case after a 3-week trial. Plaintiff -- a physician -- alleged improper performance of a perforated intestine during a D&C, causing peritonitis and surgery, and a prolonged hospitalization. Plaintiff's atty: V Amendola, West Haven. Judge Stevens, Waterbury.
2006
Six defense verdicts, 1 plaintiff's verdict set aside and judgment entered for defendant, and 1 plaintiff's verdict with post-verdict motions pending. Dec 1: Defense Verdict - Gynecological Cancer Surgery: Jim Newfield won his 3rd case in a row in the Morris case, a death action. Plaintiff's atty Stratton, Faxon. The case was tried in the US District Court, New Haven.
Plaintiff's Verdict: James Rosenblum defended the Earlington case, an Erb's Palsy case which resulted in plaintiff's verdict, against Koskoff, Koskoff. Judge Tanzer, Hartford, Ct., October, 2006. Appeal pending.
Defense Win on post-verdict motion: James Rosenblum defended supplier of oxygen equipment in wrongful death action of infant. Plaintiff "won," though verdict under $35,000. Post-verdict motion successful, and Court granted defendant's motion for directed verdict, and ordered judgment for defendant. Plaintiff's attorney: Dweck & Dweck, NY. Judge Scholl. Perry v. A, Hartford, Ct., Aug., 2006. Post-verdict motion granted February, 2007.
Defense Verdict: Jim Newfield obtained a defense verdict in the Brissette case. Plaintiff's attorney Terry Hawkins. Case involved alleged injured bladder in connection with a C-Section, followed by incontinence and surgical repair. Judge Stodolnick, Derby, Ct., July, 2006.
Defense Verdict: James Rosenblum obtained a defense verdict against Koskoff, Koskoff. The case involved the death of a 3-year old child following an adenoidectomy. Plaintiff has two ENT experts testifying against defendant surgeon. Meder v. ENT, July, 2006, Judge Alander, Waterbury, Ct.
Defense Verdict: Jim Biondo obtained a defense verdict in the Boehme case, in May, in Bridgeport, Ct., in a case involving complications for a blepharoplasty.
Plaintiff's Verdict, James Rosenblum, complication after elbow surgery, Bronx, NY, Judge Ramon, June, 2006.
DEFENSE VERDICT: James Rosenblum obtained a defense verdict in the Novak case, in May, in Stamford, CT., (Judge Shay) in a case involving eye complications after sinus surgery.
DEFENSE VERDICT: Jim Newfield obtained a defense verdict in the Russo case, in April, in Litchfield, CT., against Koskoff, Koskoff. Plaintiff alleged failure to diagnose pulmonary emboli resulting in death of young woman, with three children.
2005 Verdicts
DEFENSE VERDICT: Jim Rosenblum obtained a defense verdict in a neck surgery / anesthesia case, involving a 50-year-old man living in a nursing home, in Stamford, Ct., in Dec. Plaintiff's attorney was Russell Berkwitz. Post-verdict motions were denied. Costs of over $50,000 were awarded to defendants.
DEFENSE VERDICT: Jim Biondo obtained a defense verdictin a dental malpractice case in Bridgeport, Ct., in Nov.