NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
INJURED BOY TO RECEIVE INSURANCE SETTLEMENT
La Crosse Tribune
A rural Bangor boy injured in a tractor accident in the Town of Medary when he was 8 years
old will receive more than $400,000 in compensation over the course of his life, according
to an insurance settlement filed in La Crosse County Circuit Court.
_______________, age 13, sustained head injuries resulting in permanent facial paralysis
and the loss of hearing in one ear after being run over by a tractor.
The accident happened on a farm owned by _______________,where _________ and his
family, lived at the time.
A dispute over whether the accident was covered by insurance was settled during a jury trial
last October when a La Crosse County Jury determined that insurers were liable.
All claims against _________ were dismissed.
Insurance companies involved in the settlement are: Austin Mutual Insurance Co., Auto
Owners Insurance Co., MSI Insurance Co., Town of Barre and Heritage Mutual Insurance
Co.
The terms of the settlement call for a $116,655 lump sum payment, plus a purchase of a
structured settlement annuity for $98,345.00, which will make additional periodic payments
to him at various times until he reaches age 63.
“It really sets up a life care plan for the child,” said _________’s attorney Gregory Egan.
He said ________ will be in eighth grade and helps out on his family’s rural Bangor farm.
“This is a really nice La Crosse County family,” Egan said.
The settlement totals $517,655.00. The lump sum payment reimburses __________’s
parents $10,000.00 for loss of companionship and expenses and pays all outstanding
medical and legal bills and purchases health insurance and a computer for _________.
In the event of _________’s death before the $401.00 in annuity payments are complete, the
remaining money would go to his heirs, the settlement said.
The first payment of $1,000.00 a month begins when _________ is 8 years old on May 20,
2000, for a term of 36 months.
A $25,000.00 payment is due on his 25th birthday, a $60,000.00 payment is due on his 30th
birthday, a $150,000.00 payment is due on his 35th birthday and a $130,000.00 payment is
due when _________ reaches age 63.
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN COUPLE GETS $120,000.00 FROM ACCIDENT
La Crosse Tribune and Prairie du Chien Courier Press
A Crawford County jury awarded $120,000.00 to a Prairie du Chien couple Wednesday for
damages stemming from a car accident.
_________’s claim for damages came from a head on car accident in which ________
suffered severe injuries, including permanent disability to his left foot.
The driver of the striking car, __________, was killed in the crash.
Suing the ________ estate and Rural Mutual Insurance Co., _________ was awarded
$1,200.00 for past medical and hospital expenses, about $10,00.00 for future medical
expenses, $10,000.00 for past loss of wages, $37,400.00 for future loss of earning capacity,
$16,500.00 for future wage loss associated with surgery, and $40,000.00 for both past and
future pain and suffering.
___________ was awarded $5,000.00 for lost companionship of her husband.
The __________ were represented by Attorney Greg Egan of La Crosse. The case was
held before Judge Michael Kirchman.
JURY RULES PEDIATRICIAN NEGLIGENT, AWARDS FAMILY 1.15 MILLION
La Crosse Tribune
A La Crosse Family was awarded $1.15 million by a La Crosse County jury following a
week long malpractice case against a retired La Crosse pediatrician.
The jury found Dr. ________ negligent in his care and treatment of _________, age 11, who
was diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism.
Dr. __________ was found negligent for his treatment of __________ from the boy’s birth
through age 9 and the jury ruled his negligence resulted in ________ sustaining growth
retardation and brain injury.
The jury, which deliberated for five hours Friday before returning with its verdict at 10:15
pm, awarded $150,000.00 for program support and related care, $230,606.00 for a loss of
earning capacity and $250,000.00 for his personal injury.
In addition, the jury awarded $500,000.00 to the parents for loss of society and
companionship for injuries to their son and $19,120.00 for the cost of treating his learning
disability and related therapy until he is 18.
Attorney Gregory Egan, who represented the family said “ This was a tragic injury to a
wonderful family who have given and will continue to give this child the love and support to
be the best that he can be”.
The suit, filed against Medical Protective Insurance Co., and Wisconsin Patients
Compensation Fund – liability insurers for Dr. ________ -claimed Dr. _________ correctly
diagnosed the rare disorder and began proper treatment with medicine, but failed to change
the dosage as the boy grew older, causing permanent growth retardation and brain injury.
Witnesses to the trial included _________, Stephen Lafranchi, a Portland Oregon
pediatrician who developed infant screening for the disorder, and Joanne Rovet, a research
psychologist for the Hospital of Sick Children in Toronto.
Egan said the disorder, which occurs in one out of every 4,000 babies, can result in
cretinism, a condition of deformity and low mental capacity. All babies born in the La
Crosse area are now screened for the disorder at birth, Egan said.
PERMANENT INJURY SETTLEMENT RESULTS IN CHARITABLE GIFT
La Crosse Tribune
The settlement of a personal injury claim has resulted in the creation of a charitable unitrust
that will benefit Gundersen Medical Foundation of La Crosse.
The settlement was reached in the case of ________ vs. Medical Protective Insurance
Company and the Wisconsin Patients Compensation Fund.
_________of La Crosse made the personal injury claim on behalf of their son _________,
who received improper medical treatment.
Part of the funds paid in settlement of this claim will be placed in a charitable remainder
unitrust. The trust will provide the child with a lifetime income.
In appreciation for the excellent care _________ has received at Gundersen Clinic, the
_________ family has named Gundersen Medical Foundation as the beneficiary of the trust.
_________ will realize significant tax savings as a result of the gift.
Gundersen Medical Foundation deeply appreciates the generosity of the ________ family
and the outstanding efforts of the family’s attorneys, Parke. O’Flaherty, Heim, Egan, Koby
& O’Keefe, Ltd.,
SETTLEMENT IS BOY’S FUTURE
La Crosse Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Four year old _________ has had to go to school since he was six months old to try to catch
up with some of the other children his age.
His parents, _________ of La Crescent, believe ________ will never catch up, but they said
he has come a long way.
________ has been diagnosed as suffering from borderline mental retardation, severe brain
damage and cerebral palsy, and a seizure disorder, resulting from a lack of oxygen at birth
on October 21, 1979.
He has just started talking. His comprehension is better than his speech. Coordination on
the right side of his body has been affected by cerebral palsy. When he started to crawl, he
crawled on his left side, pulling the right side of his body along with him, _________ said.
He still cannot dress himself.
“He may never run or play ball,” she said. “We just don’t know how he will progress.
The Andersons wanted to find out what went wrong during ________ birth and their
inquiries led to a medical malpractice lawsuit and a recent out of court settlement of $10.3
million.
They said the settlement, approved by La Crosse County Circuit Judge Michael Mulroy a
week ago is ‘some insurance’ for their son’s future.
“We feel the settlement will pay for expenses for ________’s future,” _________ said.
“His medication is a constant expense and he’ll have to continue seeing doctors.
“We didn’t want to hurt anyone with this, but we thought someone should pay for what
happened,” she said.
Hearings on the lawsuit filed against two doctors, St. Francis Medical Center and the
Skemp-Grandview La Crosse Clinic were scheduled in November and December, but
lawyers reached an agreement on a structured settlement which will pay ________ several
million dollars starting when he turns 18.
________ will receive monthly payments of $2,500 a month when he is 18, with the
amounts increasing every year. He will receive $45,000.00 a month if he lives to be 69.
“We don’t think that’s too much when it’s spread over 50 years,” ________ said. “It’s
something _________ will have to deal with the rest of his life. He’ll have a lot of expenses
later on, and we don’t know if he’ll be able to take care of himself or how he will progress.”
The settlement will also provide the __________ with a lump sum of money over the years
and next month they will begin receiving $600.00 per month.
They plan to invest the money for their children. The only special thing they are
considering is a family trip to Disneyland.
In their lawsuit, the ________ contended that Drs. ________ and _________ their
employers were negligent in connection with ________ birth.
The suit claimed that ________’s birth was not adequately monitored to recognize
complications that arose, and adequate medical care, staff and equipment were not provided.
Brent Smith, one of the lawyers representing an insurance company for the doctors, said his
clients still contend they were not negligent-and no finding of negligence was made as a
result of the out of court settlement.
Greg Egan, lawyer for the _________, said the case represents one of the larger settlements
in the state because it is one of the most tragic.
“This child has been deprived of the ability of living life and knowing life as we know”
Egan said.
The lawyer said there was no intentional act done by the doctors and the hospital. “It was
an honest mistake with tragic consequences,” Egan said.
James Curtis, a lawyer for the hospital, said the lawsuit was “hotly contested with expert
witnesses on both sides ready to testify.” Curtis said the hospital’s position still is there was
no negligence.
The 30 year old Mrs. ________ had a normal pregnancy with _________. She expected a
normal birth just like the time seven years ago with the birth of her other son.
But when she got to the hospital the second time, her labor kept stopping.
“Everyone in the hospital was acting strangely and I know something was not right” she
said.
__________ was not breathing at birth and both lungs collapsed, she said. The ________
did not know if their son would live so he was baptized at the hospital.
The boy improved and 10 days later he went home with his parents. But problems
continued as ________ suffered seizures and at times he was hospitalized.
After almost three years, medication brought the seizures under control. ________’s last
seizures occurred a year ago.
“He has been far behind other children like in rolling over, lifting up his head and crawling,”
Mrs. _________ said. “He didn’t walk until he was two.”
“But the worst thing were the seizures,” she said. “When they occurred, I just wished that
there was something I could have done.”
Teachers have worked on ________’s speech and motor skills. When the family lived in La
Crosse, he attended the Coulee Region Infant Development Center. Now the family lives on
a farm, and ________ attends the Hiawatha Valley Development Program.
“We’re so fortunate to have such programs available in Wisconsin and Minnesota,”
________ said.
The ________ said they hope others will learn from their experience. There were times
when they thought about not pursing a lawsuit.
“People should realize this can happen to anyone,” ________ said. “People should know
their rights and what they can do about them.”
The couple said they are not vindictive, but took the right steps when they thought
something was wrong. They said they would have felt worse if they had not done
something.
“If we had sat and kept our mouth shut, ________ would have to live off welfare for the rest
of his life,” ________ said.
WOMAN SETTLES MALPRACTICE SUIT
La Crosse Tribune
A lawsuit filed last year by a Houston, Minnesota, woman against a retired Skemp Clinic
obstetrician has been settled out of court.
The terms of the settlement were not released, according to the documents filed this week in
La Crosse County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit, on behalf of_________, Rt. 2, Houston, claimed that __________ performed a
tubal ligation surgery on ________ without her consent. ________ lawyer, Gregory J.
Egan III, said last year that the surgery was performed following surgery for a Caesarean
birth.
_________ claimed that as a result of the surgery she sustained severe and permanent
personal injuries.
The lawsuit also named Skemp Clinic and St. Francis Medical Center and their insurers as
co-defendants.
MALPRACTICE DEAL TOTALS $5.1 MILLION
La Crosse Tribune and DesMoines Register
An elderly Waukon, Iowa couple received some peace of mind Monday knowing that
proper care will continue for their grandson who has severe brain injuries.
An out of court settlement of $5.1 million was reached between a former West Union
Physician and lawyers representing ________, a 15 year-old with cerebral palsy.
The child was improperly delivered and cared for during the first 24 hours of his life, a law
suit against the physician contended.
The settlement was reached Monday in Fayette County Court with an award of $420,000.00
immediately and $3,000.00 per month (plus a 3% annual increase) for ________ and his
grandparents, who provide his day-to-day care.
For more than a dozen years, the __________ have cared for __________, who permanently
needs medical care along with help with everyday functioning such as eating and bathing.
“They are subjects for canonization” said La Crosse lawyer, Greg Egan, who represented
________ and his grandparents.
“It is difficult to compensate someone who takes in a child needing this kind of care.”
_________ needs skilled and semi-skilled care for his day-to-day needs, special schooling,
medical care and medication.
If ________ dies prior to reaching age 71, the total settlement would be for less money. The
payments are to maintain necessary daily care of ________ who has irreversible damage to
the central nervous system and is permanently disabled.
A malpractice suit against physician , and the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society
alleged that __________ did not receive proper care at Palmer Memorial Hospital in West
Union.
The lawsuit against _________, settled before it went to a jury, alleged that due to lack of
proper care _________ became permanently and profoundly disabled and that the injuries to
his brain will prevent him from carrying on normal functions of life.
It was alleged that _________ was negligent by not providing ordinary care under the
circumstances of birth. According to Egan, forceps were used during delivery because of
the position of the child.
Egan said that the ________ are both in their late 60’s and that provisions are being made to
provide care for _________ if they are not able to maintain care as they get older.
“The __________ are good Christian people and this was a family member” Egan said.
“They felt taking him in was the right thing to do.”
The couple did not seek financial damages until about two years ago, according to Egan.
BOY, 4, WINS COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF COMPANIONSHIP
La Crosse Tribune
A 4-year old boy will receive a $3,000.00 payment for the ‘loss of society and
companionship’ with his father who was hurt in a car accident, according to a settlement
approved Tuesday.
_________ suffered upper back, shoulder and neck injuries when his car was struck from
behind by a car driven by __________ in West Salem.
Neither ___________wife, Sue, nor their son, who were in the car at the time of the
accident, was injured.
__________ and ____________ insurance company, GEICO, reached an $118,000.00
settlement on the damages, including medial expenses and a claim of “loss of society and
companionship” by _________.
But $3,000.00 was specifically designated for _______.
The complaint said that “…____________ will be unable to engage in certain recreational
pursuits with his son, because of the injuries.
Some of those activities include throwing a baseball with his left hand, playing volleyball
and tennis and shooting a bow and arrow.
“The combination of . . . many factors may have an adverse effect on _________’s
relationship with his son” the complaint said, “and that accordingly, __________ is entitled
to some compensation for the loss of society and companionship of his father between the
date of the accident and the time that (the boy) reaches the age of maturity,
Lawyer Greg Egan, representing the family, and the insurance company’s lawyer, Brent
Smith, said “Society and companionship” compensation for a child is unusual but may
signal similar settlements in the future.
DOCTORS PRAISE, LAWYERS RIP MALPRACTICE BILL
La Crosse Tribune, Feb 03, 1995 by Mial, Richard
Two La Crosse physicians are pleased with medical malpractice caps which passed the State
Assembly Thursday, but a trial lawyer says the bill will “penalize victims.”
State representatives passed a $350,000 limit on awards for pain and suffering. The bill,
which does not affect economic damages for malpractice, passed by a 64-33 vote.
The bill was supported by the medical community and opposed by trial attorneys.
Thomas Grau, a physician who heads the St. Francis-Mayo Family Practice Residency, said
he was pleased with the bill’s passage, something that the State Medical Society of
Wisconsin has pushed for years. But he said it’s important for people to realize that only
settlements for pain and suffering were capped — not economic damages such as future
wages or medical costs.
“Patients who are wrongfully injured are due for compensation,” he said.
Gregory Egan III, a trial lawyer in La Crosse, said the bill “confers a benefit on a group of
wrongdoers at the expense of seriously injured people and society as a whole.”
Besides pain and suffering, noneconomic damages could include mental stress and loss of
society and companionship in the case of injury to a spouse.
Between 1986 and 1991, there was a $1 million cap on pain and suffering. That ceiling was
removed in 1991.
State Rep. Mark Meyer, D-La Crosse, who voted for the bill, said he believes high
malpractice settlements help contribute to a lack of medical care available in certain parts of
the state –a point that Egan disputed.
Meyer said that in the past five years the number of health provider shortage areas increased
from 39 to 58.
A health provider shortage area, as defined by the state, is one with fewer than one
physician for every 2,500 people.
“I believe there is a direct linkage between malpractice and the ability to provide health
care,” Meyer said.
All other area legislators voted for the bill, including Republicans Terry Musser of Black
River Falls, Mike Huebsch of Onalaska and DuWayne Johnsrud of Eastman, along with
Democrat Barbara Gronemus of Whitehall.
Gary Bryant, a rheumatologist at Gundersen Clinic and a member of the Medical Society’s
government affairs commission, said several studies have shown that the cost of care is
driven up by defensive medicine. “Open-ended non-medical damage caps went a lone way
toward continuing the spiral of malpractice premiums,” Bryant said.
Grau of St. Francis said actuaries have estimated that the amount of money doctors must pay
into the Patient Compensation Fund could drop by 16 percent if the bill passes the Senate
and is signed into law.
Copyright La Crosse Tribune Feb 03, 1995
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved
New Report Shows Malpractice Insurers Price-Gouging
Doctors and Driving Up Cost of Care
Report faults excessive premiums, not so-called “malpractice crisis”
(Washington, DC)— The American Association for Justice (AAJ) today released a report
revealing the medical malpractice insurance industry has been price-gouging doctors
through excessive premiums and needlessly contributing to the growing cost of healthcare.
Written by former Missouri Insurance Commissioner Jay Angoff, the study is based on
recent annual reports from the top 15 medical malpractice insurers as rated by A.M. Best.
The report shows that these insurers artificially raised doctors’ premiums and misled the
public about the nature of malpractice claims – asserting that a so-called “malpractice crisis”
exists. The report puts the lie to that claim.
According to the study:
• The medical malpractice insurers saw losses and projected losses plummet by 48% over
the period 2003-2006.
• These incurred losses have declined every year for the past five years.
• These insurers’ 2006 surplus is 43% greater than their surplus in 2003 – five times the
state-minimum surplus for insurer stability.
• Only three of the 15 leading insurers issued dividends to doctors in 2006.
“Medical malpractice insurance companies have been price-gouging doctors, padding their
pockets with excessive premiums and driving up the cost of healthcare,” said Jon Haber,
AAJ Chief Executive Officer. “Cynically, these same insurance companies have been
blaming high premiums on a so-called ‘malpractice crisis’ that doesn’t exist. We have an
insurance crisis, not a medical malpractice crisis.”
The new report also demonstrates the difference between two types of losses in the
insurance industry – incurred losses and paid losses. The industry evaluates its performance
based on incurred losses (which include projections of future payments) and not paid losses
(which are actual claims payments). This report takes into account both paid and incurred
losses, and shows that although both have decreased, malpractice rates for doctors continue
to increase. “No matter how you look at it, doctors and patients are getting ripped off by the
insurance industry,” said Haber.
AAJ calls for a thorough and immediate review of the insurance industry’s unscrupulous
price-gouging and its effect on Americans’ access to a safe, affordable healthcare system.
Medical Malpractice Jury Verdicts In Wisconsin
Year # of Verdicts Plaintiff Defense % Defense Verdicts
1989 32 11 21 67
1990 29 7 22 76
1991 26 8 18 69
1992 60 15 45 75
1993 41 8 33 80
1994 35 4 31 89
1995 41 17 24 59
1996 40 10 30 75
1997 33 11 22 67
1998 23 9 14 61
1999 25 11 14 56
2000 24 7 17 71
2001 21 8 13 62
2002 26 7 19 73
2003 18 6 12 67
2004 23 4 19 83
2005 21 3 18 86
Totals 518 146 372 72
Source: State of Wisconsin Medical Mediation Panels
America’s Civil Justice System:
Fighting for Justice and Holding Wrongdoers Accountable
As attorneys, who are members of the American Association for Justice, we
work to make sure any person who is injured by the misconduct and negligence
of others can get justice in the courtroom, even when taking on the most
powerful interests.
This is more important now than ever because the drug and oil industries, big
insurance companies and other large corporations dominate our political
process – and thus, people cannot depend on the political system to hold
corporations accountable. When corporations and their CEOs act
irresponsibly by delaying or refusing to pay fair and just insurance claims,
producing unsafe products, polluting our environment or swindling their
employees and shareholders, the last resort for Americans to hold them
accountable is in our courts.
We are committed to strengthening the civil justice system so that deserving
individuals can get justice and wrongdoers are held accountable. We oppose efforts
to weaken basic legal protections and further stack the deck against every day
Americans. All Americans benefit when the individuals attorneys represent. have a
fair chance to get justice through our civil justice system.
As attorneys, we work to make sure any person who is injured by the misconduct
and negligence of others can get justice in the courtroom, even when taking on
the most powerful interests.
· Insurance companies and big corporations can afford the best defense money
can buy; plaintiffs’ attorneys level the playing field in the courtroom so that
any person can get justice and hold a wrongdoer accountable.
· Attorneys every day help and serve deserving people who are seeking justice.
This is more important now than ever, because the drug and oil industries, big
insurance companies and other large corporations dominate our political
process – and thus, people cannot depend on the political system to hold
corporations accountable.
· Powerful interests have spent millions of dollars electing candidates and
lobbying Congress and state legislatures; as a result, they wield
tremendous political power. People can no longer rely on the political
system to hold corporations accountable.
· While pretending to be advocates for consumers and patients, the goal of
these special interests, and the elected officials who support them, is to limit
the rights of individuals to get justice and hold wrongdoers accountable.
· In an effort to limit their responsibility, these powerful interests have
created phony organizations and think tanks and launched an aggressive,
long-term misinformation campaign about the civil justice system.
· Some in Congress, carrying water for their special interest friends, are
using the federal legislative and regulatory processes to limit states’ rights
to decide what issues should be decided by local juries.
· Without public hearing or debate, these powerful interests have slipped
loopholes into important legislation and regulations that provide blanket
immunity for even foreign corporations and wrongdoers that commit gross
negligence.
When corporations and their CEOs act irresponsibly by delaying or refusing
to pay fair and just insurance claims, producing unsafe products, polluting our
environment or swindling their employees, the last resort for Americans to
hold them accountable is in our courts.
· Too often, insurance companies and corporate CEOs put profits ahead
of the health and safety of the public. When they do, the only place for
many to get justice or hold wrongdoers accountable is in our courts.
o Dangerous Drugs: Merck knowingly marketed its unsafe drug, Vioxx,
and even hid the dangers from the public and doctors asking about its
safety. Merck was forced to take the drug off the market and the civil
justice system has held the drugmaker accountable for its negligence.
o Unsafe Cribs: A court case forced Bassett Furniture, a baby crib
manufacturer, to take its defective product off the market after nine
children died.
o Flammable Pajamas: A manufacturer was forced to make children’s
pajamas safer after a jury found the sleepwear highly flammable.
oDeadly Asbestos: For decades, corporations knowingly exposed people
to asbestos and hid the fact that it caused deadly cancer. Plaintiff’s
attorneys have helped innocent victims and their family members get
justice and hold negligent corporations accountable.
o Insurance Companies: Too often, insurance companies refuse to pay fair
and just claims to homeowners, as well as in auto accident, soft tissue,
medical negligence or other cases. When they do, the only way to hold
them accountable is in our courts.
We are committed to strengthening the civil justice system so that deserving individuals
can get justice and wrongdoers are held accountable.
– As Plaintiffs’ attorneys we are committed to improving the civil justice system and
ensuring that every person can get justice and hold wrongdoers accountable.
We oppose efforts to weaken basic legal protections and further stack the deck against
every day Americans. All Americans benefit when the individuals attorneys represent have
a fair chance to get justice through our legal system.
• We will fight the efforts of big corporations and their CEOs seeking to evade
responsibility.