$2 MILLION DOLLAR MALPRACTICE VERDICT FOR MISSED DIAGNOSIS

USA (SANEPR.com) June 6, 2008 -- On February 15, 2007, a Cook County jury awarded Clifford Francois $2,013,789.00 in a medical negligence case. The verdict was against Roberto Ramirez, M.D. and Hyde Park Medical Associates, Ltd.

Plaintiff claimed based on his clinical symptoms involving his lower legs (severe pain, swelling, tenseness, tenderness, etc.) and his blood tests results (elevated CPK level a/k/a creatine phosphate kinase indicating skeletal muscle damage) that his condition of bilateral anterior compartment syndrome should have been diagnosed on June 12, 13, or 14, 2001. Instead, it was diagnosed on June 15, 2001 by another physician who immediately consulted with an orthopedic surgeon. That surgeon, James Cohen, M.D., performed an emergency fasciotomy the same day.

Anterior compartment syndrome is when nerves and arteries are compressed from swelling in the front part of the lower leg which leads to movement problems of the foot and ankle. A fasciotomy relieves or decompresses the anterior compartment. Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears had this condition in 2004 and returned to the playing field that same season. Clifford Francois is a 1983 graduate of Leo High School, a 1988 graduate of UIC and is currently employed as a social worker.

After a two week trial, the jury awarded $2,013.789 in damages. The insurance carrier for the defendants, Illinois State Mutual Inter-insurance Exchange (ISMIE) chose not to make any settlement offer to Mr. Francois prior to and during the trial, including during jury deliberations.

Bob Napleton and John Saletta represented Clifford Francois. Judge Daniel Locallo presided over the trial in Case No. 03 L 12404.