Heather Hansen obtained a defense verdict for an orthopedic surgeon in Philadelphia County. The plaintiff alleged that the orthopedic surgeon negligently opted to perform a bilateral total knee replacement despite alleged vascular compromise in the patient; and negligently ordered the use of a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine during the patient’s post-operative rehabilitation. The defense contended that the orthopedic surgeon appropriately performed the surgery as the patient was given pre-operative clearance and as the surgeon himself palpated pedal pulses pre-operatively and, therefore, detected no vascular compromise. The defense also contended that the post-operative rehabilitation order to utilize the CPM machine was appropriate and within the standard of care.

Following a five day trial, and after deliberating for a mere fifteen minutes, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defense.

Heather Hansen obtained a defense verdict for a urologist in Philadelphia County. The plaintiff alleged that the urologist was negligent in the performance of a vesicovaginal repair suffered by the plaintiff after a hysterectomy. They contended that the urologist negligently positioned the plaintiff for the surgery and thus caused femoral and obturator neuropathies. The defense contended that the positioning was proper and within the standard of care, and that this type of injury cannot occur absent negligence.

Following a ten day trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the urologist as well as the co-defendant hospital and obstetrician-gynecologist.

Dan Ryan obtained a defense verdict for internist in Philadelphia County. Plaintiff’s husband died at the age of forty two as a result of his coronary artery disease (CAD). In her Complaint, Plaintiff alleged Mr. Ryan’s client (an Internist) failed to appreciate the significance of cardiac studies taken in the months and years leading up to the death and that he should have done more to decrease or eliminate some of the risk factors Plaintiff’s husband had for developing CAD, including smoking and poor diet. The defense maintained Plaintiff’s husband’s death was both unpredictable and unpreventable over the four day trial, and the jury agreed. After deliberating just over two hours, they found Mr. Ryan’s client was not negligent.

Dan Ryan obtained a defense verdict for an OB/GYN in Philadelphia County. The Plaintiff, who was pregnant with her first child, was diagnosed with fibroids. The fibroids did not complicate the pregnancy. After several hours of labor, the fetal heart rate decelerated and would not return to baseline. An emergency c-section was ordered. The Plaintiff and her husband initially refused the recommendation, but finally agreed twenty-five minutes later. A healthy baby was delivered via c-section, but because of the fibroids, uncontrollable bleeding was encountered. An emergency hysterectomy was performed. The defense maintained that the c-section was necessary to save the baby’s life and the hysterectomy was necessary to save the Plaintiff’s life. After the three week trial and a two hour deliberation, the jury agreed, and found that Mr. Ryan’s client was not negligent.