Jury returns $7M verdict for failure to diagnose and treat cardiac tamponade in bypass surgery patient

Dec 23 2010

A New York State Supreme Court Queens County jury returned a $7,000,000.00 verdict against Patrick Monteleone M.D. and Newell Robinson, M.D. where they failed to diagnose and treat cardiac tamponade (bleeding into the chest) in their patient who underwent cardiac bypass surgery on November 17, 2004.  As a result of their failure to relieve pressure in the chest cavity, Owen McNamara sustained a cardiac arrest after having undergone successful cardiac bypass surgery at St. Francis Hospital.  Mr. McNamara needed further cardiac surgery as a result of the cardiac arrest and then went on to spend two-and-a-half years in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities and suffered multiple complications including: kidney failure, nerve damage, brain injury, tracheostomy, multiple bed sores, sepsis and shock.

Steven E. Pegalis, Pegalis and Erickson, LLC represented plaintiffs - Owen McNamara and Jo-Ann McNamara of Fresh Meadows, NY against Defendants - Christopher Louis Lamendola, M.D. and Patrick Monteleone, M.D.

Defense Attorney- Peter Bower of Bower, Monte and Green, P.C. New York, NY.

Judge- Jeffrey D. Lebowitz.