Welcome to the Summer '08 edition of Freidin Dobrinsky News & Updates
We will send this information 4 to 6 times per year, containing updates on our practice and news on a variety of legal topics.
In this issue:
- $38 million in Recent Medical Malpractice Case
- Firm News: Managing Partner Philip Freidin Appointed to Judicial Nominating Commission
- Partner Manuel Dobrinsky installed as a Board of Directors of the Legal Services of Greater Miami
- Partners Philip Freidin and Manuel Dobrinsky listed in Florida Super Lawyers 2008 in the area of personal injury plaintiff law
SUCCESS IN A RECENT MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE
MIAMI-BASED PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION FIRM FREIDIN DOBRINSKY'S MOST RECENT VICTORY- $38 MILLION VERDICT FOR PERMANENTLY BLIND TWIN BOYS
Both Boys were Rendered Blind Due to a Doctor's Failure to Recognize a Well Known Complication in Premature Babies Called Retinopathy of Prematurity
Attorneys Philip Freidin and Randy Rosenblum of Freidin Dobrinsky recently obtained a $38 million verdict in a medical malpractice case in Lee County. The award included Freidin's request for $16.5 million for each of the twins after a doctor failed to recognize a treatable, well known complication in premature babies called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), resulting in the permanent blindness of both boys, who are now 7 years old. The jury also awarded $3 million to the mother of the twins, and $2 million to their father.
The twin's mother was 26 weeks into her pregnancy when her twin sons were born prematurely on November 3, 2000. Dr. Charles "Gene" Cox, an ophthalmologist, experienced in ROP screenings, conducted the screenings for the boys. ROP is a treatable condition that can cause blindness in premature babies if not diagnosed and treated early enough. One of the twin boys was examined three times and the other was examined two times by the Lee County doctor before it was recognized that their retinas were detached on January 29, 2001.
Dr. Cox's first examination of the boys occurred when they were 5 weeks old on December 12, 2000. At that examination, he reported no sign of ROP in either child. On January 2, 2001, during Dr. Cox's second examination, he found evidence that one of the twins had Stage One ROP. Dr. Cox examined both twins on January 10, 2001 and reported that he found no evidence of ROP in either child. Plaintiffs contended at trial that Dr. Cox missed ROP on January 10, 2001 and that Dr. Cox's description of the extent of retinal vasculature for each child, on each exam, was incorrect.
On January 29th, 2001, Dr. Cox examined one of the twins and determined he had a vitreous hemorrhage in the right eye and referred both boys to a local retinologist, Dr. Alexander Eaton, for further evaluation. On that same day, Dr. Eaton confirmed that each boy's retinas were detached and that they required surgical intervention. Surgery was performed by Dr. Timothy Murray at Bascom Palmer in Miami to attempt to reattach their retinas and retain vision; however, the surgeries were unsuccessful in restoring their vision.
"The verdict was determined by solid evidence and expert testimony," says Philip Freidin, managing partner and founder of Freidin Dobrinsky. In the case, the plaintiffs' attorneys called three other ophthalmologists as expert witnesses who testified that Dr. Cox's treatment fell below the "acceptable standard of care" needed to prevent their blindness.
Philip Freidin and Randy Rosenblum of Freidin Dobrinsky along with Mark Poses of Poses & Poses, in Miami, proved Dr. Cox was negligent in his treatment of both boys for failing to detect ROP before it progressed beyond the point where the boys'vision could have been saved.
Post-verdict motions for the case were heard on June 11th.
To contact attorney Randy Rosenblum via email: rrosenblum@fdlaw.net
NEWS FROM THE FIRM
"Philip Freidin Appointed to Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission"
Managing Partner and firm founder, Philip Freidin was recently appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. His term begins April 24, 2008 and ends July 1, 2011. This is the second time that he has been appointed to this Commission, which is responsible for providing the Florida Governor with a list of possible appointments to the Circuit Court.
These appointments demonstrate Freidin Dobrinsky's continued involvement in Florida's legal community and commitment to its citizens. In addition, Philip Freidin is past President of the Florida Justice Association, which is a statewide personal injury lawyer association of more than 3,500 members. He has served as a member and Chair of a Florida Bar Grievance Committee, as a member and Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission for Dade County, as a member and Vice Chair of the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, as Chair of the Florida Bar Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee, and has achieved an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available.
To contact attorney Philip Freidin via email: pfreidin@fdlaw.net
"Manuel L. Dobrinsky Continues His Dedication to the Miami-Dade Legal Community"
Partner Manuel Dobrinsky has been installed as the new representative of the Miami-Dade Justice Association on the Board of Directors for the Legal Services of Greater Miami. The installation ceremony took place at the Chesterfield Smith Center for Equal Justice and was overseen by Commissioner Katy Sorenson.
His practice areas include: consumer class actions, medical malpractice, auto accidents and personal injury. Dobrinsky's other honors and committee appointments include being President-Elect of the Miami-Dade Justice Association, a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the American Inns of Court and serves on the Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Admissions, Peer Review and Attorney Grievance for the Federal Courts in the Southern District of Florida, and achieving an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available. In addition, he serves as an instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and is fluent in Spanish.
To contact attorney Manuel Dobrinsky via email: mdobrinsky@fdlaw.net
"Florida Super Lawyers 2008 Names Partners Philip Freidin and Manuel Dobrinsky Top 5% in the state in the area of Personal Injury (Plaintiff) Law"
Partners Philip Freidin and Manuel Dobrinsky have recently been listed in Florida Super Lawyers 2008 in the area of personal injury plaintiff. Super Lawyers selects the top lawyers in Florida through an extensive process of balloting, blue ribbon panel review and independent research.
The goal is to select the top 5 percent of Florida attorneys. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
In addition, both partners are included in Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and are consistently recognized in the annual Florida Trend's Legal Elite and the South Florida Legal Guide as one of Florida's top personal injury attorneys.
