At Cogan & McNabola, P.C. we understand that the bottom line is results. Our settlements and verdicts speak for themselves and we urge you to read on to learn more about our recent successes. For further information about our firm, please call us today at (800) 704-2900.

Recent Results (reprinted from Chicago Daily Law Bulletin)

• $11.4 Million
  
  

  Attorneys: Michael P. Cogan and John M. Power
  Facts: Plaintiff was having a cervical fusion revision at Northwestern Memorial Hospital when his head dropped from neutral to 80 degrees, causing an injury to his cervical cord. He was rendered a ventilator dependent quadriplegic for 2 years and subsequently died from his injuries. The healthcare defendants claimed a pin tip on the headholder device fractured, causing the catastrophe. The hospital threw away the pin tips, then sued the product defendants. Both plaintiffs and the product defendants had spoliation claims against the healthcare defendants.

• $10.1164 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: A seventeen year-old girl was killed when she was struck by a vehicle which had previously collided with a Greyhound bus which was traveling too fast for conditions. After a ten-day jury trial, a Cook County jury returned a verdict in favor of the family. According to the Jury Verdict Reporter, this is a record high verdict for the wrongful death of a minor in a motor vehicle accident.

• $6.8 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: A forty-eight year-old woman was admitted to the University of Illinois Hospital for surgery to alleviate sleep apnea. Three days after a tracheotomy was performed, the tube clogged allegedly due to inadequate monitoring by the nursing staff and the woman suffered brain damage.

• $6.5 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: A forty-six year-old construction worker fell through a roof and suffered extensive orthopedic and internal injuries. He received the wrong medication in the emergency room. As a result, the bleeding from his injuries worsened causing his death. After a two-week jury trial, a Cook County jury returned a verdict in favor of the wife and two adult children.

• $6 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Michael P. Cogan
  Facts: As a result of obstetrician's failure to move forward with delivery in response to subtle irregularities in fetal monitor tracing, child was born oxygen deprived. Child was subsequently diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy.

• $5.8 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: Two seventeen year-old boys were killed when a wheel assembly dislodged from the axle of a semi-trailer truck. Our firm represented the family members of one of the two boys. The extent of liability insurance coverage for both families was six million dollars.

• $5.582 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Michael P. Cogan
  Facts: A 5-1/2-month-old girl received an overdose of 3% sodium chloride at Roseland Hospital resulting in a permanent brain injury. The child was supposed to receive 50 ccs of a solution high in sodium but instead received almost 500 ccs, either at Roseland Hospital or in a Daley's Ambulance during transport to another facility. The child suffered swelling of the brain and resulting mental retardation.

• $5.535 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: A twenty-nine year-old girl suffered a fractured cervical spine and subsequently died when the car she was riding in crashed into a construction pit. The jury held the contractor liable for failing to place concrete barriers at the construction site. After a two-week jury trial, a Cook County jury returned a verdict in favor of the family.

• $5.3 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: A twelve year-old girl had a tracheal injury. Various inexperienced physicians failed to diagnose her condition and provide appropriate and aggressive medical treatment. As a result, the patient suffocated to death. After a four-week jury trial, a Cook County jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff. According to the Jury Verdict reporter, this is a record high result for this type of injury.

• $5.005 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: Plaintiff employed by Will-DuPage Farm Service in Symmerton, Illinois (Will County), was unexpectedly sprayed in the face by anhydrous ammonia caused by a hose coupler failing to close properly. The incident left the plaintiff completely blind in his right eye and reduced his vision in his left eye to 20/200. Although the plaintiff is expected to undergo cornea transplants, the success of the transplants is somewhat doubtful due to the build-up of scar tissue. During the investigation, the coupler was thrown away. The primary cause of this action was based on spoliation of evidence against the insurance adjuster. According to the Jury Verdict Reporter, this is a record high result for this type of injury.

• $3.5 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Edward McNabola
  Facts: Mother presented for delivery of her child to The University of Chicago Hospital where physicians failed to properly assess fetal well being. The child was born severely brain damaged because of a delay in delivery and survived until May 20, 2002 before being taken off life supports. He is survived by his two brothers and his parents.

• $3.15 Million
  
  

  Attorneys: Edward McNabola and John M. Power
  Facts: Plaintiff underwent Lasik surgery by the defendant doctor. During the procedure, a complication occurred where the corneal cap detached from the eye. The defendant doctor failed to properly respond to this complication resulting in permanent partial loss of vision. As a result, the plaintiff lost his job as a Chicago police officer. Also, a settlement was reached with the manufacturer of the machine used during the procedure for an undisclosed amount.

• $3.135 Million
  
  

  Attorneys: Mark E. McNabola and Jody B. Pravecek
  Facts: A forty two year-old man died of a heart attack when his family physician failed to recognize and treat his cardiac risk factors, which had been present for approximately three years.

• $3.05 Million
  
  

  Attorneys: Michael P. Cogan and John M. Power
  Facts: Medical malpractice that resulted in cerebral palsy to a newborn infant when physicians failed to diagnose fetal distress.

• $3.0 Million
  
  Attorneys: John M. Power and Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: A 60 year old smoker with uncontrolled diabetes and severe peripheral vascular disease injured his ankle at work. An infection developed which was improperly managed, progressed and ultimately resulted in a below the knee amputation.
  
  
• $3.0 Million
  
  Attorneys: Mark E. McNabola and John M. Power
  Facts: Plaintiff's automobile was struck by a taxicab and suffered permanent weakness in legs. Plaintiff had a blood alcohol level at the time of the accident between .082 and .107.
  
  
• $2.7 Million

Attorney: Michael P. Cogan
Facts: Following routine out-patient bunionectomy, orthopedic surgeon prescribed excessive does of extra-strength Vicodin. After ingesting the Vicodin as prescribed for three days, 38-year-old suffered liver failure from Tylenol component of Vicodin and died.

• $2.4 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Michael P. Cogan
  Facts: A twenty-six year-old woman was admitted to Columbus Hospital with known viral encephalitis. Medical personnel at Columbus Hospital failed to properly monitor electrolytes resulting in SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone) induced hyponatremia with resultant brain edema, herniation, cardiac arrest, and death. She is survived by her husband.

• $2.129 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: After seven days of jury trial, the parties agreed to settle a work injury case involving a reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) injury to a thirty seven year-old man. The plaintiff slipped on an unnatural accumulation of ice and water at the Bismark loading dock at Navy Pier, fracturing his right leg. According to the Jury Verdict Reporter, this is the highest result on record for this type of injury.

• $2.05 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Michael P. Cogan
  Facts: A fifty-six year-old husband and father was admitted to Lutheran General Hospital to determine cause of obstructive jaundice. After undergoing diagnostic ERCP, the plaintiff developed cholangitis (infection of bile duct) which went undiagnosed, and resulted in sepsis, septic shock, cardiac arrest, and the patient's death.

• $2.03 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Edward W. McNabola
  Facts: The case involved a fifty-four year-old husband and father, whose physician failed to timely diagnose and treat skin cancer that led to metastasis of the cancer and eventual death.

• $2 Million
   
  Attorney: John M. Power
  Facts: On November 18, 2000, Christopher (Chris) Hayes was 43 years old when he died as a result of positional asphyxia after falling from an Ol'Man Grand Vision deer hunting tree stand manufactured by L&L Enterprises, Inc., a Mississippi company.  Plaintiff claimed the defendant should have provided a full body harness which would have prevented his death.  According to the Jury Verdict Reporter, this is a record high settlement or verdict in a hunting accident.

• $2 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Michael P. Cogan
  Facts: A fifteen year-old was admitted to Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, Illinois, following a motor vehicle accident which resulted in multiple fractures to the left leg. The patient was subsequently transported by Loyola University LifeStar Helicopter to Loyola where the patient died in surgery. The case involved the failure by physicians at Riverside, LifeStar transportation team, and physicians at Loyola to treat blood loss over time that ultimately resulted in death . According to the Jury Verdict Reporter, this is a record high settlement for death of a fifteen-year-old.

• $1.920 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: A Cook County jury returned a verdict in favor of a twenty-nine year-old carpet installer. He herniated two lumbar discs while working and had disectomy surgery. He reinjured his back while at an inappropriate work program, requiring the discs to be surgically fused together. The jury deliberated for five hours. According to the Jury Verdict Reporter, this is the highest result on record for this type of misconduct.

• $1.9 Million
  
  

  Attorneys: Michael P. Cogan and John M. Power
  Facts: A sixty-one year-old smoker underwent a chest x-ray in April 1997, read as normal. X-ray was in fact abnormal resulting in an eighteen-month delay in the diagnosis, by which time lung cancer had spread to brain and bone.

• $1.82 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: This case involved the Structural Work Act. A thirty-nine year-old man sustained bilateral hip fractures, shoulder dislocation, and torn rotator cuff during a fall from inadequate scaffolding. The scaffolds were provided by various companies. The fall happened at One Kemper Drive in Long Grove. The lawsuit also claimed that the defendants improperly coordinated the subcontractors in allowing the installation of glass before the ironwork was completed.

• $1.8 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: Plaintiff (Age 81) was struck by semi-tractor trailer resulting in multiple fractures. The defense had two witnesses who claimed the plaintiff walked into the back of the trailer while crossing mid-block outside the crosswalk.

• $1.67 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Mark E. McNabola
  Facts: A college student suffered second and third degree burns on her hands, face, arms and chest in an incident at a campus bar at the University of Iowa. A bartender poured alcohol on the bar and lit it on fire. The flames went out of control and engulfed the victim, who also suffered an injured shoulder and broken nose as others tried to put out the flames. After a six-day trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the victim. According to the Iowa City Press-Citizen, the award is one of the largest in Johnson County history.

• $1.5 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Michael P. Cogan
  Facts: No lawsuit was ever filed in this case. The plaintiff alleged that physicians at Tinker Air Force Base (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) failed to detect fetal distress, resulting in oxygen deprivation and brain injury to F-newborn. The case involved the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).

• $1.5 Million
  
  

  Attorneys: Michael P. Cogan and John M. Power
  Facts: A sixty two yea r-old male presented to the office of his cardiologist two weeks after undergoing open heart bypass surgery and there was noted swelling in his lower leg. The cardiologist attempted to rule in/rule out a deep vein thrombosis. He claimed that his physical examination was successful in ruling out the diagnosis of DVT. Two days later, the patient presented to a hospital with significant shortness of breath and died shortly thereafter of a pulmonary embolus. At autopsy, thrombi were found in both calves.

• $1.425 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Michael P. Cogan
  Facts: A single mother was left with permanent cognitive dysfunction after attempted suicide. Her treating psychiatrist had previously terminated her treatment because the patient failed to pay an outstanding bill for services.

• $1.0 Million

  Attorneys: Mark E. McNabola and Adria E. Mossing
  Facts: A forty-eight year-old man died of a heart attack when his family physicians failed to recognize and treat his cardiac risk factors, which had been present for approximately two years.

• $1.0 Million
  
  

  Attorney: Michael P. Cogan
  Facts: A thirty-four year old man suffered a leg injury at work and underwent tests at Mercy Hospital. Doctors there failed to diagnosis an infection that was later detected at another hospital. He suffered severe muscle, tissue and scarring on his leg as a result of numerous surgeries undergone to treat the infection.