Corboy & Demetrio Medical Malpractice Attorney Secures $3.45 Million Settlement

A Lockport, Illinois, woman has settled her medical malpractice lawsuit against Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Illinois, and Dr. Daniel Vera, a surgeon, for $3.45 million. David R. Barry, Jr., a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney at the law firm of Corboy & Demetrio, represented the plaintiff.

Medical Malpractice

In September, 2003, Marlene Bruhmuller, 61, went to the Emergency Department at Silver Cross Hospital with complaints of severe pain in her left leg. Two years prior, she had undergone a femoral-popliteal bypass on the same leg for vascular insufficiency and had been told by her surgeon that she needed to go to the emergency room immediately if she ever developed severe pain in the leg.

Bruhmuller arrived at the Emergency Department 30 minutes after the pain began, but the triaging nurse categorized her as "urgent" rather than "emergent" and she waited four hours before being seen by a physician. Once evaluated, she was immediately diagnosed with a blockage of her bypass graft and taken directly to surgery by Dr. Vera. He, however, failed to restore adequate blood flow to the extremity and did not transfer her to Loyola University Medical Center until the next day.

As a result of the delays, Bruhmuller suffered a through-the-knee amputation of the left leg.

Attorney David R. Barry, Jr.

"Mrs. Bruhmuller did exactly what she had been instructed to do when she went to the Emergency Department with her leg pain," said attorney Barry. " This is a time-sensitive problem and there is every reason to believe she would have been fine with proper and timely care."

Lawsuit Settlement

Silver Cross Hospital paid $2.5 million of the settlement and Dr. Vera paid $950,000.00.

Named as a Top Law Firm by Chicago Magaine in 2008, Corboy & Demetrio is one of the nation’s premier law firms. The Chicago law firm represents individuals and their families in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, and is renowned for its achievements in the courtroom and for its contributions to the community. The rights and concerns of its clients are at the core of Corboy & Demetrio’s practice. That dedication, compassion and relentless drive has resulted in exceptional service and exceptional results for its clients. The Chicago based firm has acquired more than $3 billion in settlements and verdicts and has attained more than 500 settlements and verdicts in excess of $1 million.