My Most Memorable CLNC® Case: A Crack in the Sidewalk Led to a $7.2-Million-Dollar Settlement and 5 New Cases
One of my favorite attorney-clients represented a building owner who was being sued for more than $20 million dollars. Negligence was asserted due to a substantial crack in the sidewalk that resulted in the fall of a 30-year-old man. The gentleman died 27 days after the fall as a result of a subdural hematoma.
The attorney sent me 500 pages of medical records. He represented the excess carrier and therefore another firm was responsible for the lead trial preparation. After my review, I communicated to my attorney-client that in my opinion, the hospital physician did not fully appreciate the patient’s neurological symptoms in the emergency room and the days following admission. I requested the opportunity to review the entire chart. Since my attorney-client was not the lead attorney, he recommended my CLNC® services to the lead law firm.
My review of the medical records revealed deviations from the standards of care related to the nursing staff and the physicians. The lead attorney (my new client) commenced a third party action based on my review. The hospital, two physicians and the patient’s primary nurse contributed $6.5 million dollars toward a settlement. The case was resolved for a total settlement of $7.2 million dollars. The result was evaluated to be extremely positive for my new attorney-client who paid $700,000 on a high exposure case. My original attorney-client paid nothing.
In the past year I have received five cases from the new attorney-client and his partners. I have been told I am their only legal nurse consultant and they expect to grow the medical malpractice component of their business.
Guest Blogger Profile
Margaret M. Gallagher, RN, BSN, MSN, CLNC has been a staff nurse, RN educator and senior nursing and hospital administrator for over 30 years. She founded Patient Care Executive Consulting in 2004 and became a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant in 2005. She is an assistant professor at Wagner College in Staten Island and has reviewed more than 800 medical malpractice cases.
P.S.Comment to congratulate Margaret and to share your most memorable CLNC® case.
3 thoughts on “My Most Memorable CLNC® Case: A Crack in the Sidewalk Led to a $7.2-Million-Dollar Settlement and 5 New Cases”
I enjoyed your post. It must have been a fabulous report. I’m a fairly new Certified Legal Nurse Consultant and I expect my reports will improve with time and experience.
I absolutely love this CLNC® Success Story!! Congrats to you, Margaret.
I would LOVE to read more stories of success like this!!! Helps to build our arsenal of “exactly why you need me” strategies with potential clients!!!
Kudos to you, Margaret for landing a golden opportunity. I am encouraged by your story. It reveals to me how valuable our services as CLNC® consultants are to attorneys.
As a launching nurse entrepreneur, I am expecting to give testimonial success stories in the near future as I continue establishing my CLNC® business.
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*The opinions and statements made by Vickie Milazzo, the founder of Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. are based on her experiences and expertise, should not be applied beyond the specific context provided, and do not guaranty or project actual results. Vickie Milazzo is no longer involved in the operations or management of the business, but is involved as an independent education consultant.
I enjoyed your post. It must have been a fabulous report. I’m a fairly new Certified Legal Nurse Consultant and I expect my reports will improve with time and experience.
I absolutely love this CLNC® Success Story!! Congrats to you, Margaret.
I would LOVE to read more stories of success like this!!! Helps to build our arsenal of “exactly why you need me” strategies with potential clients!!!
Best wishes for many successes!!
Kudos to you, Margaret for landing a golden opportunity. I am encouraged by your story. It reveals to me how valuable our services as CLNC® consultants are to attorneys.
As a launching nurse entrepreneur, I am expecting to give testimonial success stories in the near future as I continue establishing my CLNC® business.
Thank you for sharing.