Romanucci & Blandin, LLC Secures Record High Medical Malpractice Settlement On Behalf Of 93-year-old

Medical malpractice attorneys, Michael R. Grieco and Vincent J. Arrigo at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC announced a settlement today on behalf of their 93-year-old client who lost her life after suffering complications due to a Chicago-area physician negligently placing the lead of a pacemaker into the incorrect ventricle of the plaintiff’s heart.  The Decedent suffered a stroke and required a revision operation. As a result of the settlement with the physician and practice group, the plaintiff’s family was awarded $350,000.00 making it the largest award of its kind in Illinois on behalf of a 90+ year-old for a heart-related medical malpractice case.

The plaintiff alleged that the physician deviated from the standard of care by placing the lead in the left ventricle and not using appropriate imaging methods before, during, and/or after the original pacemaker insertion operation in July of 2013.  The physician did not discover the error until the next day.   

Defendants cited the Decedent’s comorbidities including: a prior stroke, diabetes, stage III kidney disease, and hypertension as to why the Decedent suffered the stroke at issue.  Defendants further alleged that another stroke unrelated to the procedure, roughly three weeks later, led to her death.  

“Before July of 2013, our client was living in an apartment without assistance, using public transportation to meet needs with the assistance of a motorized scooter and walker, paying bills, playing cards and sudoku with neighbors, and enjoying spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” said Romanucci & Blandin Associate, Vincent J. Arrigo. “This physician’s negligence singlehandedly took away our plaintiff’s independence and shortened her life.”

This case was originally being handled by the late Geoffrey L. Gifford who had asked that Romanucci & Blandin Associates, Michael R. Grieco and Vincent J. Arrigo assist in representing the plaintiff on his behalf.  Law Clerk, Sarah E. King also assisted with the case.  

“It was an honor for us to not only represent this plaintiff but to also ensure that this case, which was near and dear to Mr. Gifford’s heart, received the settlement it deserved,” noted Romanucci & Blandin Associate, Michael R. Grieco. “Vincent and I are extremely proud to have secured a record-breaking number for this family whose mother, grandmother and great-grandmother was living her life to its fullest prior to this procedure.”