Randall C. Monroe tried a medical malpractice wrongful death case
Randall C. Monroe tried a medical malpractice wrongful death lawsuit in Cook County, Illinois, from July 20 to August 1, 2012. The plaintiff’s decedent was a 59-year-old male with a cardiac history including two prior angioplasties with stenting, who presented to the defendant physician for an office visit on January 26, 2007, complaining of chest discomfort, sweating and coughing. The defendant physician performed an examination that included an EKG, which showed no acute changes. The decedent also reported that his symptoms were relieved with belching. The defendant physician determined that the symptoms were due to reflux, and prescribed an antacid. He also ordered outpatient testing that included a stress test and chest x-ray. One hour after the office visit, the patient developed chest pain and shortness of breath at home, called an ambulance, but went into a lethal arrhythmia as he was being loaded into the ambulance. He could not be resuscitated, and expired leaving a widow and three adult children. The plaintiff’s attorney requested $8 million from the jury, and the jury returned a verdict against the defendant physician for $1.15 million.