Rinehardt Law Firm Achieves Highest Medical Malpractice Verdict In The State Of Ohio For 2017

John Rinehardt and Melanie Fahey of Rinehardt Injury Attorneys achieved Franklin County Ohio’s largest jury verdict of 2017.

The verdict was the largest medical malpractice verdict statewide and the fifth largest jury verdict of any kind statewide for the year.

As reported in Columbus Business First online magazine, the medical malpractice jury verdict of $5.2 million in favor of the Estate of David Robinson from American Health Network was among the largest in all of Central Ohio along with a car crash verdict and a chemical contamination verdict.

The case involved a Physician Assistant who failed to perform the proper diagnostic tests when a 35-year-old man presented with complaints of blood in his stool. The failure resulted in an 8-month delay in diagnosis of rectal cancer. Once discovered, the disease had metastasized and the husband and father of three young children died less than a year later.

The Physician Assistant denied liability and denied that any failure on his part to diagnose the cancer was a cause of the man’s death.

“When we show up (at the doctor’s office), we expect that the steps that are necessary are going to be followed. When that doesn’t happen… it’s going to have dire consequences,” Rinehardt said. “The evidence showed the steps to determine the likely source of complaints and symptoms were not followed. He lost his chance to beat a cancer that if caught early is very survivable.”

After a seven-day jury trial in Franklin County, a unanimous eight-person jury found that the Physician Assistant’s treatment fell below the standard of care and that his negligence was a cause of the man’s ultimate death. The jury included $5.2 million to make up for the harms and losses caused. The verdict included medical expenses, lost income, mental anguish and loss of society for his wife and family.

Rinehardt described the jury as “thoughtful and deliberate.” All eight jurors had a college education and four had graduate degrees.

“He had a long life ahead of him had he been diagnosed,” Rinehardt said. “He was instrumental in the family business, had a lot to offer his family and community. The jury was very attuned to the evidence.”

Rinehardt Injury Attorneys represents individuals and families throughout the state of Ohio. The experienced team of lawyers and their staff are dedicated to looking out for the best interests of their clients. With offices in Mansfield and Columbus, the firm offers small town values with big city results.