$3 million Dollar Settlement Medical Gas Line Mix-Up/ Anoxic Brain Injury -Goza & Honnold represented an eighteen year old high school senior who went to an oral surgeon's office to have his wisdom teeth extracted. He suffered a respiratory arrest. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital then transferred by life-flight to a regional medical center. He was diagnosed with anoxic encephalopathy or brain damage from lack of oxygen. An investigation revealed that the nitrous oxide tank in the oral surgeons "bottle room" had actually been connected to the oxygen line. The young man was in a coma for two months during which time he was transferred to a specialty rehabilitation hospital. With the help of a dedicated staff and his own tremendous effort, he made a remarkable recovery. He was able to walk and talk, but remained cortically blind with brain damage and spasticity.

A number of parties were named as defendants. Early in the year, we were able to reach a settlement with the installing plumbers for their policy limits of three million dollars. Later, we participated in a mediation during which we were able to reach a settlement with the other parties for a confidential amount. For more details click here.

$1.6 Million Opioid Narcotic Overdose/Kansas Wrongful Death Case
G&H recently concluded a case involving the sale and mismanagement of a Fentanyl based opioid narcotic. The health care providers and pharmacy involved paid $1.6 million and the pharmaceutical company settled for a confidential amount. For more details click here

$750,000 Brain Injury Oxycontin/drug Overdose
G&H represented a woman who suffered brain damage from an OxyContin overdose. The case, pending in Lafayette County Circuit Court, recently settled for $750,000. For more details click here

$2 Million Dollar Policy Limit Settlement/Kansas Obstetrical/Gynecologic Mismanagement/Miscarriage
Plaintiff was a 31 year old mother of three who was suffering from persistent bleeding following a miscarriage. She reported to the emergency room and the next day to an obstetrics/gynecology clinic. Despite her severe bleeding, lab studies were not ordered and she was sent home. Her husband found her on the floor unconscious. She was rushed to the hospital but was severely anemic, in septic shock and as a result suffered severe permanent debilitating injuries. For more details click here

$9.25 Million Failed Heart Procedure/Heart/Kidney Transplant/Jackson County
Goza | Honnold represented a woman diagnosed with a ventricular tachycardia or irregular heart rhythm. She underwent a cardiac ablation, a procedure using energy or heat to kill the area of the heart causing the irregular rhythm. The physician erroneously ablated the coronary artery resulting in a heart attack. The patient ultimately underwent both a heart and kidney transplant. For more details click here

$2.5 Million Automobile Accident /Drunk Driver/Collision
Goza | Honnold, working with other attorneys, obtained the 11th largest settlement in the State of Missouri in 2007. This matter involved a drunk driving accident in Morgan County, Missouri. Plaintiffs alleged negligence on behalf of the drunk driver and negligent entrustment on behalf of the driver's mother for permitting him access to the vehicle despite his lengthy history of driving while intoxicated.

$1.6 Million Jackson County/Obstetrical Negligence/Breech/Cerebral Palsy/Brain Damage
The parents of a young girl brought suit on their daughter's behalf against obstetrician for failing to timely respond when baby's heart rate dropped precipitously after the performance of an external version to correct a breech presentation. The baby survived, but as a result of the failure to perform a timely c-section she went without oxygen and developed cerebral palsy resulting in a need for lifelong medical care.  Click here to read more

$7.4 Million Verdict St. Louis/Death/Gastric By-Pass
Goza | Honnold and another local firm tried a case in the City of St. Louis resulting a verdict of $7.4 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The claim arose out of the wrongful death of a 50 year old woman following a gastric bypass surgery. The woman suffered a perforation which went undiagnosed for several days. Finally, tests were ordered and she was taken to surgery but died on the operating table from overwhelming sepsis.

$800,000 Jackson County Post Op Complications/ Gall Bladder Surgery
Case involved the negligent failure to provide appropriate post-operative care to patient following gall bladder surgery. The patient suffered periods of hypotension which went unrecognized and untreated. The patient ultimately lost the use of his legs.

Multimillion Dollar Settlement Jackson County / Obstetrical Mismangement/Fetal Distress/Cerebral Palsy/Brain Damage
This was a medical negligence claim against a hospital for injuries sustained by infant during delivery. The mother reported to the hospital in labor. The fetal heart strips showed an ominous pattern. The physician was summoned and the baby stabilized. The physician went back to the office, but the strips again showed signs of distress. The claim was the hospital staff then failed to recognize the change in the fetal heart panel and summon the physician in a timely fashion.

$300,000 Jackson County/ Failed Total Hip Replacement
Case against orthopedic surgeon for alleged negligent performance of a total hip replacement resulting in a painful limb-length discrepancy.

$471,000 Verdict - Motorcycle Accident
A one week jury trial resulted in a jury verdict in Anderson County, Kansas for $471,000. The case involved a motorcyclist injured in a collision with a garbage truck.

$413,000 Verdict/Springfield/Hospital Slip Fall
Goza | Honnold obtained a verdict against a hospital in Greene County, Missouri for the failure of the hospital staff to prevent a patient's slip and fall after her hip replacement surgery.

$220,000 Severe Injury/Animal Liability
Goza | Honnold obtained a $220,000 settlement on behalf of a woman who was knocked to the ground by an off leash dog and suffered significant injury.

$255,000 Slip Fall On Ice/Failure to Maintain
Plaintiff was injured when he slipped and fell on a patch of ice in a parking lot at a business. He suffered serious injury to his right ankle requiring surgery. The evidence showed that ice repeatedly developed in the spot where plaintiff fell. The property owner had not undertaken measures to ensure that the ice patch was routinely salted or barricaded.

Jackson County/Drug Mismanagement/Metoclopromide/Reglan
Plaintiff had been placed on the drug metoclopromide for many years by her gastroenterologist. As a result of being on the drug for a protracted period of time and in violation of warnings on the drug packaging, plaintiff developed a neurologic disorder called tardive dyskinesia. This disorder cases involuntary facial movement, primarily in the mouth and jaw.

Jackson County/Post Operative Complication/Esophageal Tear
Plaintiff underwent drainage/scoping procedures for treatment of his swollen lymph nodes. During this procedure the physician tore a 7 cm hole in his esophagus. The injuries have resulted in a permanent painful condition in the plaintiff's throat which affects his ability to swallow.

Unnecessary Surgery/Post-op Complications/ Confidential Settlement
Plaintiff reported to a surgeon's office with complaints of abdominal pain and cramping. The surgeon performed an adhesiolysis surgery in an attempt to correct what he believed to be the source of the pain. After the surgery plaintiff became ill, suffering from severe pain and abdominal distention. She required significant post-operative care including multiple surgeries and suffered from severe permanent pain in her abdomen. Plaintiff alleged that the surgery was not necessary and, in fact contraindicated in light of plaintiff's other medical conditions.

Kansas Death/Failed Diagnosis/Heart Attack
Plaintiff reported to the ER with complaints of shortness of breath, nausea, and periodic chest pain radiating into his arms. He was admitted to the hospital and was given a workup to try to identify the source of his symptoms. Four days later he was discharged with no diagnosis for the cause of this pain. The next day plaintiff died of a heart attack as the result of an undiagnosed underlying heart condition.

Drug Mismanagement Led To Woman Bleeding to Death
Decedent was an elderly woman who went to a nursing home after a hospital stay to recuperate. During her stay her Coumadin doses were not appropriately managed resulting in severe internal bleeding and ultimately her death.

Birth Negligence Led to Baby's Death/Jackson County
The parents of a baby who died shortly after birth contended that the healthcare providers who cared for the baby after birth mismanaged the child's care by taking her off of her ventilator too soon resulting in her death.

Nursing Home Negligence/Wander/Failed Supervision
Decedent was a patient at a residential psychiatric facility. She was allowed to wander away from the facility at night. A search was performed but she was not found until her remains were discovered in the woods behind the facility approximately nine months later.

Malpractice/Fall Malpractice/Fall/Dizziness/Failed Supervision
Our client was a frequent recipient of dialysis services. She suffered two broken ankles when she fell after becoming lightheaded due to too much fluid being dialyzed.

Unnecessary Back Surgery/Post Op Complications/Jackson County
Plaintiff underwent an L4 discectomy by her neurosurgeon. After the surgery she had multiple complications and prolonged pain and discomfort. Plaintiff contended that the surgery performed was the wrong surgery and that the surgeon did not appropriately identify the true source of her back pain.

Unnecessary Back Surgery/Post Op Complications/Jackson County
Plaintiff was admitted to a hospital for an extended stay. During his stay his heels developed severe decubitous ulcers which led to multiple surgical procedures including operations on his knee due to infection.

Mass Tort Litigation/Drugs/Medical Devices/Vioxx/Bextra/Celebrex/Fleets/Kugel Patch
Goza / Honnold working with lawyers around the country has been involved in a number of recent mass tort litigations including, Vioxx, Bextra/Celebrex.  We also continue to be actively involved in the Fleets Phospha Soda, Kugel Patch and Metoclopromide litigation