August 05, 2008

Post One Hundred Thirty Seven: 241.40

241.40. That's how many hours I billed in the month of July. I have been so friggin' busy at work that I have barely had time to breath, let alone make any attempt to post my random thoughts and amusements. Between trial (successful again, more to follow) and trips to Beaumont and Mississippi, I've been busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest.

Yeah, it's a cliche but I've always found it amusing.

Anyway, back to the trial: we represented an emergency room physician who was sued by the estate of a 77-year-old man who died of cancer. You might guess that the lawsuit stems from some sort of failure to diagnose the cancer, but you'd be wrong. Instead, this lawsuit stemmed from an alleged failure to diagnose an eye injury following an auto accident that occurred two years before his death.

Never mind that there were no complaints of eye pain in the ER.

Never mind the fact that at least four separate health care professionals examined his eyes without noticing any injury to the eye.

Never mind that our doctor is, quite simply, a stud ER doc educated at some of the finest universities and medical schools in this country (including the Mayo Clinic).

Never mind the fact that plaintiffs did not have an ER physician expert, but instead relied on a treating ophthalmologist to offer opinions on the standard of care for an ER physician.

In any event, the jury deliberated for about 15 minutes and came back with a unanimous verdict in our favor. It was a fun trial. I was responsible for the cross-examination of the decedent's son who made the wholly unsupported allegation that our doc never even saw the patient. Obviously, the jury didn't buy a word of it.

Again, winning is fun. Beats the hell out of settling or, God forbid, losing.

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