This is a list of our firm's case results in Virginia (VA) and beyond. We can't guarantee you'll receive the same results, but we can guarantee we'll work tirelessly on your behalf and try to obtain the jury verdict or settlement you deserve.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.

Failure to Diagnose/ER Doctor/vascular incident (aortic aneurysim)

Case Description: Medical negligence/failure to diagnose

Court/Date: Suffolk Circuit Court 1999

Outcome: Jury verdict of $700,000.00

Staff: James C. Lewis, Attorney

What happened: We represented the estate of a 56-year-old retired FBI agent (plaintiff's decedent) who reported to his family doctor with a 3-day history of chest pains radiating into his jaw together with intermittent visual disturbance. His family physician claimed that he referred plaintiff's decedent to the emergency room with a provisional diagnosis of impending vascular accident. The emergency room physician diagnosed the plaintiff's decedent has having a sore throat and denied receiving a report from the family physician of an impending vascular accident. The emergency room physician released the plaintiff from the emergency room with an appointment with an ENT doctor and conducted no diagnostic test. Four days later the plaintiff's decedent died at his home of an dissecting aortic aneurysm.  The autopsy revealed that the dissection was between 3 and 6 days old.

Legal strategy: Plaintiff's counsel immediately retained the chief of cardio-thoracic surgery at Yale Medical School to support his case.  Because of the conflicting testimony of the family practice doctor and the emergency room doctor, a lawsuit was filed against each of them and they were allowed to "point the finger" at each other.

The results: Case was tried to a jury in Suffolk Circuit Court who returned a $700,000.00 verdict against the emergency room physician.

Awarded: $700,000.00

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about. 

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.