Armantrout v. Cascade Medical Clinic
Medical malpractice does grievous harm both physically and emotionally, simply because patients fall victim to negligence from a class of individuals that our society have been taught to revere and trust, literally, with their lives. Osborn Machler has litigated medical malpractice suits for years, and has the long experience and track record needed to deliver quick and favorable results to clients.
The story of Kristen Armantrout showcases how the unprofessional and careless conduct of a medical office can traumatize an entire family. In July of 2003, 18-year-old Kristen underwent surgery on her left ankle at Cascade Orthopedics. The surgery went as planned, but not the events afterward. Kristen began experiencing calf pain, pain behind the knee and dizziness in the days after surgery. She complained of these difficulties at her first post-surgery check-up, but the physician merely noted the symptoms on her chart to be "as expected."
Her problems persisted. Panicky, Kristen and her mother began leaving message after message for the doctor and the doctor's assistant. A return call never came. The pain intensified and Kristen's mother, Josie, stayed on hold twice for 45 minutes waiting for the doctor to pick up.
On the 5th of August, Kristen had her second follow-up appointment. The staples on her ankle came out and the doctor fitted her with a walking boot. As she sat up, Kristen began experiencing chest pain. The medical assistant dismissed her pain as nothing more than an anxiety attack.
Upon arriving home, Kristen collapsed in the doorway and her mother called 911. Kristen was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Because Kristen's mother Josie is blind and cannot drive, she had to make other arrangements to get to the hospital. It was too late. Josie never saw her daughter alive again.
The case went to trial and Osborn Machler proved to the court that Josie Armantrout's blindness made her dependent on Kristen. Osborn Machler's team prevailed, earning a hard-won $1.15 million recovery for Kristen Armantrout's family.
A key factor in the ruling of this case was the finding of dependence which in this case meant that Kristen's parents could claim damages under the wrongful death statute, which includes the value of the services Kristen provided them, as well as damages for the loss of companionship, love and guidance that she would have provided.
Medical malpractice suits are emotional from beginning to end and Osborn Machler attorneys pave a clear path for clients to quickly and successfully maneuver through the legal process.
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