Sommers Schwartz attorneys Judith Susskind and Dina Zalewski secured a confidential $2.45 million settlement for a 67-year-old man who suffered serious injuries due to the defendants’ failure to timely recognize that he was suffering a stroke, and in failing to timely provide treatment for the stroke.

On September 24, 2015, the plaintiff was en route to play golf when he experienced numbness on his tongue, the left side of his face, and the left side of his body. After calling his family, he drove to a nearby hospital emergency room. The staff examined him and performed a CT scan of his brain. A bleed to his brain was ruled out by the CT scan, but an ischemic stroke was not. Despite continuing to exhibit classic signs and symptoms of a stroke, and over his objections, he was discharged home with a diagnosis of “anxiety” and a possible TIA, or “mini stroke”.

A few hours later, plaintiff was taken back to the same emergency room, complaining of worsening left-sided weakness, numbness, vomiting, speech problems, and trouble walking. He was admitted. Although his condition continued to decline through the night, his stroke was not diagnosed until the following afternoon, when he was finally airlifted to the type of hospital that could manage his condition.  After arriving at the stroke center, the medical team quickly provided endovascular stroke intervention for a basilar artery occlusion.  Unfortunately, by that time, the stroke had progressed and there was permanent brain damage.

The medical team performed intra-arterial TPA and a suction thrombectomy to restore blood flow to the brain. Plaintiff also underwent stenting procedures. Because of these procedures, he suffered no further strokes. Unfortunately, because the necessary stroke treatments were negligently delayed, the patient suffered severe and permanent brain damage and severe and permanent physical impairments. The plaintiff had a lengthy hospital stay, and remained critically ill for months, suffering sepsis, malnutrition, blood clots, and other health problems.  He was transferred to several rehabilitation facilities before being permanently placed in a skilled nursing facility.