Medical Malpractice Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia

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The one that, it might not have been the biggest verdict, thank God, but it certainly was, it was rewarding because it was the, at the time the largest verdict in that small town. So this was in Douglas, Georgia, in Coffee County. And I represented an individual who had gone in for a case of pancreatitis and while he was in the hospital they put an IV in his hand, and they put it in wrong. And the material that they were infusing then came outside of his vein. It is called extravasating and it extravasated and caused an irritation in his hand. And despite the fact that he complained bitterly to the nurses and to the medical care providers no one did anything for several hours. And then finally, when it was finally taken out he ended up losing his thumb and part of his hand as a result of that.

And so we brought that claim, and a lot of people told me you’re just not going to get good money down in this small town. They don’t award damages very well down there. And I didn’t believe that. I didn’t want to, because I believe everyone should get justice if they’ve been injured regardless of whether they’re in Atlanta, or Marietta, or in South Georgia. And so I took that case and I took it to trial down in Coffee County, and my client was just a tremendous witness and things just really, really went well down there, including the defendants decided it would be a good idea to bring all the nurses from the hospital and sit them in the back of the courtroom during the trial.

And the jury really didn’t like that. They didn’t like the idea that someone was trying to influence their decision about the case, and so we got a $1.5 million verdict for this gentleman who lost his thumb, which was just a tremendous result, and really I think spoke volumes. And I have spoken about that case in other venues, that justice really shouldn’t be limited by the city that you live in, by the county that you live in, and the willingness of lawyers to take chances and try cases in these venues that have historically been thought of as not plaintiffs friendly. It’s something I’m a big advocate of.

Atlanta, GA personal injury attorney Laura M. Shamp talks a medical malpractice case in which a client lost his thumb and part of his hand. She explains that although it may not have been the largest verdict, I am grateful that the case I’m about to share was truly rewarding. It occurred in Douglas, Georgia, situated in Coffee County. My client, who had been admitted to the hospital for pancreatitis, experienced a medical mishap. During his stay, an IV was incorrectly inserted into his hand, causing the infused material to extravasate, resulting in significant irritation. Despite his persistent complaints to the nurses and medical care providers, no action was taken for several hours. Regrettably, by the time the IV was eventually removed, he had already lost his thumb and part of his hand.

Undeterred, we filed a claim, although many individuals cautioned that significant compensation would be unlikely in such a small town. There was a prevailing belief that damages were not awarded favorably in that area. However, I held a different perspective. I firmly believed that everyone should receive justice when injured, regardless of their location, whether it be Atlanta, Marietta, or rural South Georgia. With this conviction, I proceeded to take the case to trial in Coffee County. Throughout the proceedings, my client proved to be an exceptional witness, and the course of events unfolded remarkably well. To my surprise, the defendants made the ill-advised decision to bring all the nurses from the hospital and seat them in the back of the courtroom during the trial.

This tactic did not sit well with the jury. They were displeased by the apparent attempt to influence their decision regarding the case. As a result, we achieved a remarkable verdict of $1.5 million for the gentleman who had lost his thumb. This outcome, while not the largest financially, spoke volumes about the importance of pursuing justice regardless of the city or county of residence. It emphasized the significance of attorneys taking risks and litigating cases in venues that have historically been perceived as unfavorable for plaintiffs. I am a staunch advocate for equal access to justice, irrespective of geographic constraints, and this case has reinforced my unwavering commitment to that cause.

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