Romanucci & Blandin wins $2.9 million settlement at trial in medical negligence wrongful death case against Chicago area hospital and doctors

Attorneys say 32-year-old woman died because medical staff failed to provide basic care over 30 hours while in the ICU department

CHICAGO (November 08, 2023) – Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, a national trial firm based in Chicago, announces Partner Joseph E. Kolar and others secured a medical malpractice wrongful death settlement of $2.9 million during trial in favor of their client against a Chicago-area hospital and three doctors.  The plaintiff was the estate of a 32-year-old woman who died on November 6, 2018, in the ICU department of the hospital. The trial began in October at the Circuit Court of Cook County with Judge Patricia Sheahan presiding. The settlement was reached on November 6, 2023, following a two-week trial.

The woman presented to the emergency department on November 4, 2018, with complaints of abdominal pain.  A CT study showed she had severe fecal impaction.  She was admitted to the ICU the same day because her primary care doctor was worried she could “tank and go south.”  Over the next 30 hours, no one called a surgeon to perform the basic procedure to disimpact her colon.  As a result, after about 30 hours, she went into septic shock from a ruptured colon.  When a surgeon was finally called, he immediately recognized he had been called too late to do anything for the woman. 

The woman was survived by her mother, father, brother and sister. 

“We are very proud to have obtained this result for the family,” said Romanucci & Blandin Partner Joseph E. Kolar. ”People place great trust in medical professionals and should be able to depend on a reasonable level of care.  That did not occur here.  One doctor never came to see her.  There was no communication at all between the three doctors,” Kolar said. 

To learn more about legal options involving medical malpractice and failure to diagnose please visit: https://www.rblaw.net/practices-untimely-or-failure-to-diagnose.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death. Founded in 1998, we have decades of history securing verdicts and settlements for our clients - many for millions of dollars and others record-setting awards.  Our expertise ranges from medical malpractice and sexual abuse cases involving individual or institutional negligence to civil rights, police misconduct and workers' compensation, making Romanucci & Blandin a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 313-7543.

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