The Law Offices of The Savage Law Firm
Oregon Cases Handled By Our Personal Injury Lawyers
The success of our law firm in Oregon rests on our ability to instill confidence in our clients and utilize our extensive resources and experience. More importantly, our success relies upon the depth of trust and communication between our personal injury lawyers and our clients. Highlighted below are a few of the many legal matters our personal injury lawyers have successfully concluded on behalf of our clients. The settlement sums are confidential in many of these cases, however we can tell you that the range of settlements and awards we have won for our clients spans $50,000 to $3,000,000.
Patient v. Veterans Administration:
A 63-year-old patient at the Veterans' Administration Hospital underwent a coronary artery bypass operation in which a vein was harvested from his right leg to use as an arterial graft. After the surgery, signs of unusual pain, pressure, and sensation were present. These symptoms were recorded by attending nurses, but apparently ignored by attending physicians. More than several days passed before a careful examination revealed probable signs of a compartment syndrome. When the veteran's leg was opened, significant muscle death was seen with the resulting loss of muscle tissue in the lower leg. Successful negotiations with the Veterans Administration in Washington D.C. resulted in a settlement of $500,000.00
Minor Patient v. Physician & Clinic:
An 8-month-old baby was seen by his pediatrician for a "wandering eye." Over the next 10 months the doctor adopted a "wait-and-see" plan. No simple tests were allegedly done to determine if a mass or other abnormality was causing the eye to wander. An optometrist then determined a mass was present in the eye. By this time, the ocular tumor had spread to other eye requiring more extensive therapy, including radiation therapy. World-class experts determined the course of therapy would have been different with earlier diagnosis, and would have put the child at less risk for recurrence. A significant confidential settlement was reached to help resolve the case and provide future income payments to the client.
Minor Patient v. Health System, Doctor & Hospital:
A 2-year-old presented to the emergency department on two occasions, approximately 10 hours apart. Signs of an early infection, possibly meningitis, were present, but no tests were performed to rule out this possibility. Phone calls were made from home, but phone advice nurses told the mother to "wait and see." The mother took the child on her own to the second ER visit. Signs of an ominous infection were present, but the child and his mother were kept waiting for over two hours before a doctor saw the child. By this time the child was nearly dead from an overwhelming infection. The child survived, but the circulation in his legs was severely compromised resulting in the amputation of both legs. Nearly 40 medical experts were consulted. The case settled on the first day of trial for a significant sum in a confidential settlement.
Patient v. Physician and Clinic:
A 45-year-old male complained to his doctor of rectal bleeding that concerned him. A diagnosis of "hemorrhoids" was made on the basis of an examination that did not include a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. The patient also experienced a sudden release of about 10 cc's of blood that reddened the toilet bowl. The patient was ultimately seen by another medical provider who was concerned about the possibility of colon cancer. A careful workup revealed the presence of colon cancer, resulting in surgery and a permanent colostomy. After considerable pre-trial discovery and negotiations, a significant settlement in favor of the patient was obtained.
Patient v. Defendants:
A 50-year-old woman consulted a dermatologist for a suspicious mole on her body. A biopsy tissue sample was taken and sent to a laboratory. The pathologist incorrectly read the tissue sample as an irritated mole. 19 months passed before another tissue sample was taken and the correct diagnosis of melanoma was reached. The patient suffered significant surgical procedures and a decrease in life expectancy. Careful expert witness consultation and significant discovery preparation obtained a confidential settlement for the client.
Patient v. Hospital & Surgeon (3 cases):
Patient consents to abdominal surgery. Surgical sponge is left behind inside patient's abdomen and remains undetected for 18+ months. In the meantime, patient experiences ongoing pain, gas, distention and bloating, all of which are dismissed. The defense claimed patient's symptoms were not due to any fault of the surgeon and, in any event, were not significantly disabling. In each of these cases, resolution was obtained after investigation and discovery was conducted.
Minor Boy v. United States Postal Service:
A 2-year-old boy was in front of a United States Postal Service truck as it moved away from the curb while the driver was delivering mail. Despite the well-designed mirror system, the driver failed to see the boy before the truck moved forward and ran over him. A trial with expert testimony took place before a federal judge after which the U.S. government agreed to pay a mutually acceptable amount to finish the case.
For more information contact our office in Portland, Oregon. Our personal injury lawyers will be happy to discuss your case with you.