Our Results
At Tetzel Law, we take pride in obtaining the best outcome for our clients. The following are some examples of successful results we achieved for our clients. These cases illustrate the variety of significant matters we handle.
$2,000,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement – Delay in Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer
$1,750,000 Settlement – Confidential Malpractice Settlement
$1,650,000 Premises Liability Settlement – Attack by Co-Tenant
$1,250,000 Minor Struck by Motor Vehicle Settlement
$1,250,000 Smart Car Rear-Ends Construction Vehicle Settlement
$1,250,000 Motorcycle Driver Dies in Left Turn Crash Settlement
$1,250,000 Settlement – Plaintiff Suffers Abdominal Injuries in T-Bone Collision
$1,150,000 Sexual Assault at Nursing Home Settlement
$1,100,000 Settlement – Moped Driver Dies in Crash with SUV
$1,000,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement – Medication Error Results in Stroke
$950,000 Confidential Premise Liability Settlement
$700,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement – Delay in Diagnosis of Melanoma
$600,000 Confidential Product Liability Settlement
$550,000 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement, Spinal Cord Injury
$512,500 Confidential Products Liability Settlement
$500,000 Confidential Wrongful Death Settlement
$500,000 Brake Failure Settlement
$475,000 Fall from Ladder Settlement
$450,000 Pressure Ulcer at Nursing Home Causes Wrongful Death Settlement
$459,000 Disputed Property Damage Claim
$450,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement, Failure to Diagnose Leukemia
$400,000 Settlement – Plaintiff Diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia Following Motor Vehicle Crash
$209,000 Premise Liability Verdict, $325,000 Judgment After Interest
$300,000 Motor Cycle/Bus Accident Settlement
$250,000 Wrongful Death Medical Malpractice Settlement
$250,000 Nursing Home Negligence, Fall from Bed
$237,500 Product Liability Settlement – Hip Implant
$235,000 Motor Vehicle Settlement, Contested Back Injury
$210,000 Pedestrian Accident at Gas Station, Blood Clot Injury
$209,446.53 Arbitration Award – Plaintiff Struck While Crossing Street at Night
$200,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement
$175,000 Motorcycle Intersection Collision
$150,000 Negligent Security Settlement
$150,000 Property Owner Settles Dog Bite Case, Dog Owner Uninsured
$2,000,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement – Delay in Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer
The plaintiff, a 54-year-old married woman, presented to an orthopedic physician for bilateral hip pain where she underwent conservative treatment. Ultimately, the defendant orthopedic physician ordered a pelvic MRI due to continued symptoms. An outside radiologist interpreted the MRI and sent the radiology report to the defendant orthopedist. The report indicated a concerning left adnexal mass and recommended an oncology referral. At the plaintiff’s follow-up appointment with the defendant orthopedist to review the MRI results, the plaintiff was never informed of the suspicious ovarian mass and the orthopedic notes made no reference to the mass.
Plaintiff alleged the defendant’s orthopedic care fell below the standard of care by failing to review the radiologist’s report, failing to inform the plaintiff of the mass, and failing to make the appropriate referrals to work-up the suspicious mass. The defendant indicated he reviewed the MRI image himself, not the radiology report, and his care focused on the orthopedic hip injury/symptoms and had nothing to do with the ovaries.
The plaintiff experienced a 19-month delay in diagnosis. She was diagnosed with clear cell carcinoma arising from the left ovary which metastasized to 4 aortic lymph nodes with secondary omental involvement. She was diagnosed as having Stage 3C ovarian clear cell carcinoma.
Plaintiff’s gynecologic oncologist opined the 19-month delay in diagnosis and delay of definitive treatment caused the plaintiff’s ovarian cancer to advance from Stage 1 to Stage 3C. Therefore, the plaintiff’s 5-year survival rate significantly decreased due to the delay of diagnosis from approximately 80% to 25-30%, decreasing her long-term survival by 50-55%.
The case settled for the policy limits of the defendant orthopedic doctor and orthopedic practice group. At the time of settlement, nearly 3 years since diagnosis, the plaintiff was cancer free without any evidence of reoccurrence.
$1,750,000 Confidential Malpractice Settlement
$1,650,000 Premises Liability Settlement – Attack by Co-Tenant
The plaintiff, a 59-year-old male, lived in a shared multi-family rooming residence that housed individuals who were homeless and suffered from substance addiction and mental health disorders. The property was owned and managed by a non-profit company.
In November 2019, the plaintiff was attacked in his room by a co-tenant, causing him to fall and sustain a significant spinal cord injury. The plaintiff brought claims against the non-profit property owner and non-profit property management company as well as many of the entities’ employees including property managers, case managers and supervisors. Discovery revealed the plaintiff made numerous documented complaints regarding the assailant leading up to the attack. The plaintiff also alleged the defendants conducted a negligent CORI of the assailant which should have all together prevented his tenancy.
Plaintiff alleged the defendants negligently and carelessly maintained and controlled the property by allowing a known dangerous and violent individual to reside and remain at the rooming house. Plaintiff’s property management expert opined the defendants failed to monitor the assailant, failed to evict for non-payment of rent or for-cause, or relocate the plaintiff after multiple complaints. The expert further indicated the defendants failed to comply with property management best practices and industry standards including appropriate policy and procedures, staff development and training, and complying with the defendants’ own policy and procedures.
The defendants contended the plaintiff was comparatively negligent and his own behavior contributed and caused the attack. The defendants further argued the company employees were workers of modest means with the intent of serving individuals from difficult and challenging backgrounds and thus any jury verdict would be moderate at best. The defendants also moved for summary judgment arguing they did not owe the plaintiff a duty of care and the attack was not foreseeable.
As a result of the attack, the plaintiff sustained a spinal cord injury requiring cervical fusion, prolonged inpatient rehabilitation, and left him with residual functional deficits. Plaintiff retained a neurosurgeon and life care planner as damages experts.
The case settled for $1,650,000 at mediation two weeks before the court was scheduled to hear the parties’ oral arguments on the defendants’ summary judgement motion.
$1,250,000 Minor Struck by Motor Vehicle Settlement
The 26-month-old minor plaintiff walked to an unmarked bus stop with his older brother and parents as well as other families from the neighborhood. While the parents were distracted by the family dog that broke free from an invisible electric fence, the children walked ahead. The minor plaintiff began to run towards the bus stop but ultimately stopped and stood several feet in the main intersecting street for a few seconds. While standing in the street, the defendant struck the minor with the vehicle’s right front fender, launching the minor into the air where he landed in a nearby tree. The defendant testified she never saw the minor plaintiff or other children before the crash and therefore did not take any evasive action. The defendant further indicated she never knew a bus stop existed at the incident location despite driving past it multiple times each week.
Plaintiff alleged the defendant negligently and carelessly operated her motor vehicle with disregard for pedestrian conditions and in violation of Massachusetts Law. Plaintiff’s accident reconstruction expert was prepared to testify the defendant had ample sight cues, sight distance, expectancy, and time to anticipate and avoid the minor plaintiff as he approached and stood in the roadway.
The defense claimed the minor plaintiff ran into the street and the defendant had no ability to avoid the collision. Defendant’s accident reconstructionist further alleged solar glare prevented the defendant from observing the minor plaintiff and children at the bus stop.
The minor plaintiff suffered a brain injury and non-operative right leg fracture. Plaintiff’s pediatric neurologist was expected to testify the minor experienced a traumatic brain injury which affected his learning and executive function and placed him at an increased risk to develop learning disabilities which would require IEPs, counseling, and behavioral plans. The defendant was expected to challenge and dispute the minor’s brain injury alleging he was born prematurely and sought pediatric neurologic care and development therapy before the incident.
Plaintiff also brought claims on behalf of the minor brother, mother, and father for emotional, psychological, and post-traumatic trauma as a result of witnessing the incident.
The case settled a month before trial for the insurance policy limits of $1,250,000.
$1,250,000 Smart Car Rear-Ends Construction Vehicle Settlement
The plaintiff was driving home from work in a Smart car in the early morning on a dark highway in the rightmost travel lane. As he approached the beginning of a construction site on the highway, the plaintiff rear-ended a slow-moving tractor-trailer carrying a load of Jersey barriers extending beyond the rear of the flatbed.
The plaintiff brought claims against the general contractor, subcontractor that owned the tractor-trailer and driver of the tractor-trailer. The entities were retained by the state to undertake improvements to the highway. At the time of the crash, the tractor-trailer was travelling approximately 16 mph and was transporting the Jersey barriers to a highway work zone. Plaintiff alleged the defendants failed to have a strobe vehicle or police detail trail the tractor-trailer as mandated by the MUTCD and OSHA regulations as well as the general contractor’s safety plans. Plaintiff retained multiple liability experts including a Traffic Engineer, construction safety professional, and crash reconstructionist that specialized in driver behaviors and response.
As a result of the crash, the plaintiff sustained significant facial trauma and fractures, a brain injury with associated seizure disorder, detached retina, and left shoulder injury which required multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.
The defendants were prepared to call multiple liability and damages experts to dispute the plaintiff’s claims. The defendants argued the crash was the plaintiff’s fault and his own failure to control his vehicle and maintain a proper lookout caused the rear-end collision. While subject to undecided trial motions, the defendants intended to argue the plaintiff fell asleep while driving home after working 12 hours.
The case was unsuccessfully mediated twice and ultimately settled a month before trial for $1,250,000.
$1,250,000 Motorcycle Driver Dies in Left Turn Crash Settlement
The decedent, a 75-year-old male, was operating a motorcycle on a main roadway with one lane of travel in each direction. As the decedent approached an intersecting street, the defendant turned left from the opposite direction directly in front of the decedent’s motorcycle, resulting in a head-on collision. Plaintiff’s counsel promptly initiated an investigation and obtained multiple witness statements which confirmed the decedent was not speeding and had no time to react to the defendant’s vehicle.
As a result of the collision, the decedent was ejected from his motorcycle and sustained multiple traumatic injuries. Ultimately, the decedent died from the blunt force impact later that day.
The decedent’s adult children alleged the defendant negligently caused the crash by failing to grant right of way to the motorcycle while making a left-hand turn and failing to keep a proper lookout.
The case settled for the defendant’s insurance policy limit of $1,250,000.
$1,250,000 Settlement – Plaintiff Suffers Abdominal Injuries in T-Bone Collision
The plaintiff, a 59-year-old female veteran, was driving home from her job as a Mental Health CNA at a veteran’s hospital. While travelling with the right of way, the plaintiff’s vehicle was T-boned by a commercial dump truck. Plaintiff’s accident reconstructionist analyzed the vehicle crash data of both vehicles involved and was prepared to testify the plaintiff was travelling straight within the speed limit just prior to impact. The reconstructionist was expected to testify the defendant’s failure to yield was the sole cause of the collision.
The plaintiff suffered internal and abdominal injuries in the collision including a splenic laceration, diaphragmatic hernia, and multiple rib fractures. She was initially taken by ambulance to a local hospital at which time her internal bleeding required a medical flight transport to a trauma center. She underwent several procedures during her inpatient hospitalization.
Months later, the plaintiff also developed an intestinal stricture which required a subsequent hospitalization and endoscopies. She was restricted from driving and working for months and remained on a soft diet for approximately six months.
Suit was filed immediately. During discovery and prior to the truck driver’s deposition, the case settled for the policy limits.
$1,150,000 Sexual Assault at Nursing Home Settlement
The plaintiff was sexually assaulted in a secured dementia unit at the defendant nursing home. The perpetrator frequently visited the facility and socialized with its residents despite having no family members there for many years.
On the day of the incident, a CNA discovered the perpetrator in the plaintiff’s bed with the plaintiff disrobed. The nursing home staff understated the severity of the event to the point the plaintiff’s family, instead of the nursing home staff, notified the police. The plaintiff was taken to a nearby hospital and underwent a SANE exam which revealed physical trauma and confirmed the plaintiff was sexually assaulted. Evidence collected during the SANE exam matched the perpetrator’s DNA.
The plaintiff’s guardian brought negligence claims against the nursing home, nursing home corporate ownership as well as the administrator, director of nursing, assistant director of nursing and several individual RNs. Plaintiff’s nursing home administrator expert opined the defendants breached the standard of care in several respects including allowing a third-party free access to a secured dementia unit, providing access codes to visitors, and failing to require visitors to sign-in. The expert also opined the nursing home attempted to conceal the sexual assault and failed to properly investigate and report prior instances of trauma.
At the time of the sexual assault, the plaintiff was 87-years old and suffered from multiple underlying health conditions including advanced dementia, depression, anxiety disorder and heart failure. She had no memory of the sexual assault. Plaintiff retained a geriatric psychiatrist to discuss the plaintiff’s changes in behavior after the assault including hallucinations, fear of men, and newly developed sexualized behavior. The expert also opined the plaintiff suffered PTSD as well as worsened depression and anxiety.
$1,100,000 Settlement – Moped Driver Dies in Crash with SUV
The decedent, a 56-year-old married male, was operating a moped in the breakdown lane on a roadway with one lane of travel in each direction. As the decedent approached an intersection, the defendant, operating an SUV, turned left from the opposite direction directly in front of the decedent’s moped. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the decedent braked but slid and struck the right rear of the defendant’s SUV.
As a result of the collision, the decedent’s left leg was crushed between the moped and SUV. The decedent ultimately died from his left leg and abdominal injuries thirteen days after the crash.
The widowed plaintiff alleged the defendant negligently caused the crash by failing to grant right of way to the moped while making a left-hand turn and failing to keep a proper lookout.
The defendant alleged his view was obstructed at the intersection by a box truck whose driver stopped and waved the defendant to execute his left turn. The defendant also alleged the decedent operated the moped at an excessive speed in the breakdown lane while passing vehicles to his left. The plaintiff was prepared to counter the defendant’s allegations with evidence that he failed to report the obstructing box truck to police, on his Operator’s Report or in answers to interrogatories signed 16 months after the incident, and the decedent’s speed was limited by the moped’s governor.
Following the completion of discovery and before a scheduled trial date, the case settled at mediation for $1,100,000.
$1,000,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement – Medication Error Results in Stroke
In February 2015, the plaintiff, a then 79-year-old independent woman, was admitted to the defendant-nursing home for short-term rehabilitation following a nondisplaced pelvic fracture. At that time and for many years prior, she suffered from atrial fibrillation and was prescribed Coumadin. The discharge instructions from the hospital ordered a daily dosage of Coumadin as well as frequent INR testing. After being admitted to the defendant-nursing home, the plaintiff went 11 days without any anticoagulant medication. When the nursing home staff discovered the medication error, the defendant-physician attempted to troubleshoot the error by ordering loading doses of Coumadin. The plaintiff suffered an embolic stroke days later when her daughter-in-law discovered her with facial drooping and garbled speech. The plaintiff underwent rigorous physical, occupational and speech therapy in the ensuing month in an attempt to regain her independence. After exhibiting some improvement over the next 7 weeks, the plaintiff travelled to California to visit her daughter where she suffered a second embolic stroke. The plaintiff never regained any sense of independence thereafter. She required 24/7 care and necessitated some form of assistance for nearly every activity of daily life.
The plaintiff brought negligence claims against the nursing home and her assigned physician. In discovery, it was confirmed the unit manager failed to transcribe the Coumadin order to the plaintiff’s medication administration record in violation of federal and state regulations. The plaintiff further argued the defendant-physician physically examined the plaintiff twice during the period she did not receive Coumadin and did not undertake any effort to review her chart or ensure her INR levels were within therapeutic range. The defendant-physician argued she affirmed the Coumadin order upon admission and as a result did not breach the standard of care.
In addition to standard of care experts, the plaintiff retained an expert cardiologist who opined the first stroke was causally related to the medication error and was also a substantial contributing cause of the second stroke. The defendants obtained expert opinions indicating neither stroke was causally related to the medication error. The basis for that position was the plaintiff’s volatile INR levels, the fact she travelled across country and the inability to identify when and where a clot formed. The defendants also argued an unrelated third stroke in 2019 contributed to the plaintiff’s permanent deficits.
In the middle of discovery shortly after plaintiff disclosed two additional expert opinions, the case settled against both the defendant nursing home and defendant geriatric physician for a total of $1,000,000.
$950,000 Confidential Premise Liability Settlement
$700,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement – Delay in Diagnosis of Melanoma
In April 2017, the plaintiff, a 78-year-old man, went to his primary care doctor with a suspicious lesion on his right arm. The primary care doctor removed the lesion and sent the specimen to the pathology department at a nearby hospital. The defendant pathologist analyzed the specimen and made the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma. No further testing or treatment was ordered.
Fourteen months later, the plaintiff developed two similar lesions on his right arm. The primary care doctor referred the plaintiff to a dermatologist that removed the lesions and sent the specimens for pathological testing. This time the plaintiff was diagnosed as having metastatic melanoma.
In September 2018, the plaintiff was referred to an oncologist where he underwent a wide local excision procedure. He also commenced monthly adjuvant immunotherapy for thirteen consecutive months. The plaintiff’s treating oncologist indicated the plaintiff had stage III or stage IV melanoma. The plaintiff’s April 2017 specimen was also reviewed by the pathology department of the oncological hospital and the records indicated the correct diagnosis was melanoma instead of basal cell carcinoma.
The plaintiff retained a pathologist and oncologist as experts. After review of the slides, the plaintiff’s pathologist expert agreed the defendant misdiagnosed the April 2017 specimen as basal cell carcinoma instead of melanoma. Both the pathologist and oncologist experts were prepared to testify the misdiagnosis caused a sixteen to seventeen-month delay in diagnosis which allowed the melanoma to advance from stage I or II to stage IV. The plaintiff’s oncological expert opined that a wide resection and a right axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy should have been performed in April 2017, which yields a 95% curative rate for stage I or stage II cases. Instead, the expert oncologist indicated the plaintiff’s melanoma metastasized and went from a curable to a non-curable disease.
The defendant was prepared to offer expert testimony from several experts that the cancer had metastasized by April 2017 and that diagnosis and treatment in 2017 would not have changed the plaintiff’s prospect of long-term survival. The plaintiff also suffered from several pre-existing health conditions including renal cell carcinoma, aortic aneurysm with stent placement, coronary artery disease, and two prior heart attacks.
When the case resolved at mediation, the plaintiff had completed immunotherapy treatment and was cancer free for a year and a half without any evidence of reoccurrence.
$600,000 Confidential Product Liability Settlement
$550,000 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement, Spinal Cord Injury
On March 7, 2014, the Plaintiff, a thirty-three-year-old male, was involved in a four-car crash in heavy traffic on his way to work. The Plaintiff alleged the 16-year-old Defendant caused the event by initially rear-ending the Plaintiff’s car which resulted in multiple impacts with four vehicles.
The Plaintiff was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a C4-C5 disk herniation that slightly compressed his spinal cord. He ultimately underwent a cervical diskectomy and two-level fusion within a week of the accident.
Plaintiff’s neurosurgical expert was expected to testify the Plaintiff sustained an acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury with neurological deficits. Moreover, the expert opined the Plaintiff suffered permanent weakness in his arm, permanent damage to his cervical spine, and is at an increased risk to develop adjacent disc disease and additional surgery in his future.
$512,500 Confidential Products Liability Settlement
$500,000 Confidential Wrongful Death Settlement
$500,000 Brake Failure Settlement
On January 21, 2014, the Plaintiff, a 63-year-old male, was working with a co-employee to attach a snow plow onto a truck as a winter storm was approaching. The Plaintiff acted as the spotter and situated himself in a garage bay where the snow plows were stored. As the Plaintiff’s co-employee drove the truck towards him to connect the plow to the truck, the brakes allegedly failed, pinning the Plaintiff between two plows. Post-incident investigations indicated the truck’s brake pads and rotors were worn and likely contributed to the crash.
Eight months earlier, the Defendant auto body shop performed a state inspection and major tune-up on the truck. The Plaintiff’s expert, an automotive engineer and certified inspection mechanic, was prepared to testify the Defendant conducted an improper state and brake inspection. The expert opined the worn brake pads and rotors had to be present at the inspection eight months earlier as the vehicle only experienced 2,200 miles of travel during that period. Plaintiff’s expert concluded the Defendant failed to warn the Plaintiff’s employer of the worn brake pads and rotors and failed to recommend replacement.
As a result of the incident, the Plaintiff suffered a serious right leg injury for which he underwent three surgeries. He was unable to return to gainful employment after the incident.
$500,000 Boating Accident
$475,000 Fall from Ladder Settlement
The Plaintiff, a tenant of the Defendant property owner, fell 25 feet from a ladder while in the process of painting and scraping a large multi-family property. Neither the ladder nor any of the equipment was alleged to be defective or unsafe. The Plaintiff sustained multiple injuries including a L2 burst fracture, fractured ribs and fractured fingers. He underwent surgery to his lower spine and right hand and suffered permanent injuries.
The case was brought against the property owner. Plaintiff alleged the Defendant was negligent by: a) failing to hire a reputable painting contractor as the job was extensive and dangerous; b) failing to provide adequate fall protection including staging; and c) negligently hiring the Plaintiff due to his known mental health issues.
The Defendant argued the Plaintiff’s comparative fault barred any recovery as he simply lost his balance while scraping in an unsafe manner. The Defendant also argued she did not owe a duty to provide fall protection or training because she was not a general contractor and did not maintain control of the worksite. The Defendant contended she was unaware of the extent of the Plaintiff’s mental health issues and even so, the Plaintiff was fully capable of appreciating the risks associated with the job.
$459,000 Disputed Property Damage Claim
Multiple pipes burst in homeowner’s vacant secondary residence causing substantial structural damage. Insurer denied the claim based on a failure to adequately maintain the property and disputed the value of the damage. After an in-depth investigation, counsel proved insurer’s obligation to provide full coverage for the occurrence and homeowner was fully compensated for damages to real and personal property.
$450,000 Pressure Ulcer at Nursing Home Causes Wrongful Death Settlement
In November 2016, the decedent, a 65-year-old male, was admitted to the defendant-nursing home for permanent nursing home care. Preceding his admission, the decedent was transferred from several psychiatric and long-term care facilities due to advanced dementia and combative behavior. The decedent was a resident of the defendant-nursing home for 21 days and ultimately discharged due to a stage 3/4 coccyx pressure ulcer.
Plaintiff brought claims against the nursing home and geriatric physician at the facility alleging they violated the standard of care by failing to identify, treat, care, and develop a care plan for the decedent’s coccyx pressure ulcer. The decedent’s coccyx wound advanced from a “reddened” area upon admission to a stage 3/4 pressure ulcer resulting in sepsis and necrosis. Plaintiff’s experts, a wound specialist and geriatric physician, opined the defendant-nursing home and defendant-geriatric physician failed to implement a care plan and/or physician orders specific to the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers for the first 9-10 days the decedent was a resident at the facility. Plaintiff also developed evidence to show the nursing home was understaffed and undertrained. The decedent passed away 7 days after he was transferred to a local hospital from sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis.
Following extensive discovery, the parties mediated the case where the plaintiff settled with the nursing home. Six months before the scheduled trial date against the geriatric physician, plaintiff resolved the case against that defendant for a total combined settlement of $450,000.
$450,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement, Failure to Diagnose Leukemia
Plaintiff had a history of health issues and presented to her primary care physician for blood work which revealed high white blood cell count, absolute neutrophils and absolute monocytes. Despite acknowledgment of the abnormal results, no follow up blood count was performed. As a result, the Plaintiff’s Leukemia went undetected and untreated until it was too late to be effectively treated. Ultimately, the Plaintiff passed due to complications associated with Leukemia.
$400,000 Settlement – Plaintiff Diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia Following Motor Vehicle Crash
On April 26, 2018, plaintiff operated her vehicle in the far right-lane on I-90 when her vehicle was struck by a commercial tow truck attempting to merge from the middle lane. As a result, plaintiff’s vehicle spun out and struck the guardrail.
The plaintiff presented to the hospital after the collision with complaints of neck and back pain. Radiology confirmed no fractures, and plaintiff was discharged with pain medication. In the ensuing days, plaintiff developed left-sided facial pain and followed up with her dentist. In the weeks prior to the collision, plaintiff’s number 12 (left upper) tooth was fractured and extracted. No abnormalities were found during dental examinations. Plaintiff continued to experience left-sided facial pain, and ultimately received a neurology referral. Following examination and radiology, plaintiff was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. Ultimately, surgical intervention was recommended and plaintiff underwent a left craniotomy for microvascular decompression.
Plaintiff’s neurosurgical expert was expected to testify the plaintiff’s diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia was casually related to the trauma sustained in the motor vehicle accident, and the need for surgery was reasonable and necessary.
The defendant contested liability and the causal relationship of plaintiff’s trigeminal neuralgia diagnosis. Defendant’s expert neurologist was expected to testify a pre-existing anomaly in the brain stem on the right-side of the plaintiff’s face caused the pain on the left-side, and the decompression of the trigeminal nerve was not caused by trauma from the collision in absence of fracture, hematoma, or severe whiplash.
The case settled at mediation during discovery.
$209,000 Premise Liability Verdict, $325,000 Judgment After Interest
(Stuart v. National Amusements, Inc.; Middlesex Superior Court, Civil Action No.: 2012-02802)
On March 27, 2010, the Plaintiff, a 67-year-old male, watched a movie at the Showcase Cinema in Woburn, Massachusetts with his wife. At its conclusion, as the Plaintiff exited the theatre, he tripped and fell on a dustpan and broom extending over an aisle from a theatre chair. The Plaintiff fell forward and his head impacted a partition wall.
At trial, Plaintiff’s counsel proved the Defendant violated several of their own policies which included leaving obstructions in walkways/aisles, improper storage of cleaning equipment and failure to perform theatre safety checks. The Defendant’s employees admitted said policies were not followed on the night of the incident due to understaffing of ushers.
The Plaintiff sustained a head injury, namely post-concussive syndrome, as well as soft tissue neck and back injuries. All diagnostic tests were negative. He alleged the head injury significantly affected his everyday life due to constant, debilitating headaches. The Plaintiff sought treatment with many different neurologists and underwent various forms of treatment including steroid injections, Botox injections and daily pain medications.
The Plaintiff’s damages were complicated by a motor vehicle accident he was involved in two years prior for which he sought treatment and had references to head pain/headaches. The client also sat for a deposition related to the motor vehicle accident three days after the theatre incident and testified inconsistently about his injuries.
The case was tried over one week. The first and only offer was made before the final day of trial which was substantially less than the verdict.
$300,000 Motor Cycle/Bus Accident Settlement
In May of 2015, the Plaintiff, a twenty-three-year-old male, was operating his motorcycle when a school bus turned in front of him, causing the Plaintiff to swerve from the road and fall off his motorcycle.
The Plaintiff was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with fractures in his shoulder, wrist and thumb. In the months following the accident, the Plaintiff treated conservatively and returned to work as an apprentice electrician. After returning to work, it was apparent his thumb fracture had not healed properly. As a result, the Plaintiff underwent two surgical procedures to repair the nonunion in his thumb. He returned to work in a full capacity three months after the final procedure.
Plaintiff’s orthopedic expert was expected to testify the Plaintiff will continue to suffer from deficits relating to the mobility of his thumb. Plaintiff’s counsel argued those impairments will be magnified given the Plaintiff’s age and profession.
The Defendant contested liability as no contact was made between the Plaintiff and the school bus. The Defendant argued the Plaintiff had limited experience operating a motorcycle and was travelling at a high rate of speed. Further, the Defendant maintained the Plaintiff had a clear view of the school bus for a significant period of time and acted unreasonable in attempting to avoid it.
$250,000 Wrongful Death Medical Malpractice Settlement
Tetzel Law filed a lawsuit on behalf of the deceased Plaintiff’s family, alleging wrongful death due to the medical malpractice of the Defendants. Plaintiff alleged that as a result of the improper care and treatment by the Defendants, the decedent’s colon cancer went undiagnosed leading to the decedent’s premature death. Plaintiff alleged the Defendants failed to properly investigate and report initial CT scan findings which revealed a concerning a colonic mass. As a result of that failure, Plaintiff alleged the colonic mass was allowed to develop further and the decedent’s colon cancer went undiagnosed for months, leading to the decedent’s passing. The Defendants disputed the claims. After filing the lawsuit, the attorneys at Tetzel Law were able to secure a $250,000 settlement for the decedent’s family.
$250,000 Nursing Home Negligence, Fall from Bed
Plaintiff was an 80-year-old patient of the Defendant nursing home when he fell out of his bed and sustained significant head injuries. As a result of the head injuries, Plaintiff suffered subdural hematoma and underwent a craniotomy procedure. Shortly after the surgery, Plaintiff suffered a myocardial infarction which was complicated by the subdural hematoma. The Plaintiff passed approximately one-month post-surgery. The attorneys at Tetzel Law alleged the Plaintiff was a known fall risk, and the nursing home failed to take proper precautions including bed/side rails on the Plaintiff’s bed. Further, the attorneys at Tetzel Law through expert consultation alleged the myocardial infarction suffered post-surgery and the Plaintiff’s untimely death were related to the initial fall and the head injuries. Through negotiations, Tetzel Law achieved a $250,000 settlement for the family of the deceased Plaintiff.
$237,500 Product Liability Settlement – Hip Implant
Plaintiff underwent a hip replacement surgery due to degenerative osteoarthritis. Over the ensuing years, Plaintiff experienced intermittent rashes, later identified as metallosis, and experienced a crunching feeling when walking. Eventually, the hip implant broke at the head of the implant, known as a head-neck dissociation for faulty hip implants. As a result. Plaintiff underwent a revision surgery. The attorneys at Tetzel Law discovered the hip implant system was recalled and faulty. Through negotiations, the attorneys at Tetzel Law achieved a $237,500 settlement for the Plaintiff.
$235,000 Motor Vehicle Settlement, Contested Back Injury
Plaintiff exited a parking lot when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle. Plaintiff suffered serious injuries to his back, including disc injuries with the potential for future surgery. Insurance company initially denied liability and disputed the extent of the Plaintiff’s injuries. Prior to filing suit, the attorneys at Tetzel Law were able to settle the case for the policy limit of the Defendant. Further, the attorneys at Tetzel Law pursued an underinsurance claim and obtained an additional settlement for the Plaintiff.
$210,000 Pedestrian Accident at Gas Station, Blood Clot Injury
Plaintiff owned a gas station and attended to one of the valves at the side of the building when a vehicle struck the Plaintiff and ran over his legs. Plaintiff suffered crush injuries to his leg, resulting in blood clots which ultimately caused a stroke. The insurance company disputed the extent of the Plaintiff’s injuries. Through consultations with experts, the attorneys at Tetzel Law obtained a policy limit settlement against the Defendant, and pursued an underinsurance claim to secure additional reward for the Plaintiff.
$209,446.53 Arbitration Award – Plaintiff Struck While Crossing Street at Night
On 12/30/2015, the plaintiff, a pedestrian, attempted to cross a five-lane roadway at approximately 10:00 PM. Simultaneously, the defendant drove his vehicle in the far-right lane. The plaintiff walked across four lanes when he was struck by the defendant’s vehicle. The plaintiff was not in a crosswalk at the time of the incident. The collision was witnessed by two individuals, one of whom travelled in front of and to the immediate left of the defendant. The witness noticed the plaintiff with enough time to stop his vehicle and avoid a collision. The same witness also noticed the defendant on his cell phone immediately after the collision. The defendant denied the cell phone use alleged by the witness.
The plaintiff was found unresponsive and taken to a nearby hospital where he underwent a right craniotomy surgery. Plaintiff remained inpatient for approximately two-weeks and was transferred for additional two weeks of rehabilitation. Plaintiff received neurological treatment in the ensuing months to improve his cognitive issues.
Liability was heavily contested. Defendant argued no evidence of speeding; the incident area was nearly unlit; the plaintiff was wearing dark clothing looking at his cell phone; and that the plaintiff was not in a crosswalk. The Local Police Department accident reconstructionist concluded the defendant was travelling within the speed limit and the defendant did not have enough perception reaction time to avoid the collision.
The parties agreed to arbitration following the close of discovery with a confidential high/low agreement. The arbitrator found both parties equally negligent. The arbitrator awarded the plaintiff $418,893.05, reduced to $209,446.53 for shared liability.
$200,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement
Plaintiff presented to the Defendant hospital with worsening abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Plaintiff received a diagnosis of pancreatitis and discharged with pain medication but continued to present thereafter with chronic abdominal pain. Six months after the initial visit, Plaintiff presented to another hospital who performed a CT scan which revealed pancreatic cancer. The cancer was categorized as advanced, and despite eight months of chemotherapy, the Plaintiff passed away. The attorneys at Tetzel Law alleged the hospital breached the standard of care owed to the Plaintiff through their failure to follow up and perform an abdominal CT scan. The Defendant denied a breach occurred and argued the ultimate outcome would have been no different.
$175,000 Motorcycle Intersection Collision
While travelling on his motorcycle through a main intersection, the Plaintiff was struck by a vehicle entering the intersection from the Plaintiff’s right side. Liability was contested and centered on which vehicle entered the intersection first. The Plaintiff suffered a significant leg fracture which required surgical intervention. Through negotiations the attorneys at Tetzel Law were able to secure a $175,000 settlement for the Plaintiff.
$150,000 Negligent Security Settlement
The Plaintiff and her family were residents of a large federally subsidized apartment complex in East Boston. On the night of the incident, the Plaintiff engaged in a verbal altercation with multiple non-residents at the property that turned physical but dissipated once law enforcement arrived on scene. Later in the evening, the non-residents returned to the apartment complex and attacked the Plaintiff and her family members while they were walking outside in a common area. The Plaintiff was assaulted and suffered multiple facial fractures that required reconstructive surgeries. Through discovery and multiple depositions, it was revealed the defendant apartment complex and its management company had prior notice of the non-residents trespassing at the property as well as other violent criminal activity. The plaintiff argued that simple and feasible security measures could have been undertaken to prevent the occurrence. The defendants maintained legal causation defenses and argued the Plaintiff was an active participant in the melee. The case settled at mediation for $150,000 prior to trial.
$150,000 Property Owner Settles Dog Bite Case, Dog Owner Uninsured
In July 2012, the minor Plaintiff, five-years old at the time, was attacked by a pit bull mix at a multifamily property. He sustained facial scarring to his forehead.
The dog owners/tenants were uninsured. Plaintiff’s counsel pursued a claim against the property owner under a Nutt v. Florio theory; the dog owners/tenants remained as Defendants in the case to maintain joint-tort.
The property owners defended the case on the grounds they did not know the dog resided at the property, never saw the dog and likewise did not know of the dog’s dangerous propensities.
Through discovery, Plaintiff’s counsel identified the tenants’ previous landlord who was expected to testify he evicted the dog owners/tenants because the dog had attacked a child. In addition, Plaintiff’s counsel located a tenant to the property, who had since moved, and he was expected to testify the property owners knew the pit bull resided at the property and knew the dog was dangerous.
After the close of discovery, the parties unsuccessfully mediated the case. Shortly before trial, at the second mediation, the case settled for $150,000.
DISCLAIMER: The settlements and verdicts listed here represent a sampling of the case results pursued and won by Tetzel Law, LLC. Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case. However, our clients tell us that knowing we have achieved significant results, both by settlement and jury verdict, is one factor that many of them used to decide to hire us.