Springfield Wrongful Death Lawyer

Deborah Dodge and David Ansley represented a child who was born not breathing and without a pulse. The child was revived after 32 minutes of his life. The child suffered from a skull fracture and was diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. He currently has severe left-sided weakness, walks with a severe limp, and suffers from a seizure disorder.

David Ansley represented a young boy who suffered extensive burns on his legs, stomach, chest and back as a result of a propane gas explosion and fire. Through extensive investigation and analysis, the attorneys discovered gas that leaked from a line connected to a gas burning appliance in the home. The attorneys demonstrated the gas line became damaged as a result of improper insulation, allowing gas to leak throughout the home. Ultimately, the gas contracted an ignition source, believed to be a pilot light from another gas-burning appliance, and resulted in the large explosion and fire.

Steven Blair represented the wife, children and parents of a 24-year-old man who died in his sleep from an accidental drug overdose. The young man sought treatment at a local emergency room within the hours before his death, but was discharged and sent home less than 30 minutes after arriving. The jury returned a $1,635,000 verdict against the emergency room doctor responsible for caring for the young man at the hospital.

Debbie Dodge represented a woman who went to the Emergency Room with weakness and numbness in her legs. Her symptoms worsened in the ER. A neurosurgeon was contacted, but he did not come and examine the patient until the following day. Once admitted to the hospital, the woman was unable to move or feel her legs. However, no doctors were contacted. After doctors examined the patient late the following morning, she was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome and was rushed for emergency surgery. She did not regain feeling or movement in her legs.

Steven Blair and Chip Lee represented a man who lost his 11-month-old daughter and unborn child when his daughter and pregnant girlfriend were struck and killed by a tow truck driver while crossing Highway 64 near its intersection with Highway 5 in Lebanon, Missouri. After settling with the tow truck driver's insurer, Steven and Chip sued the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for failing to install crosswalks or other pedestrian facilities that would have made it possible for the mother to safely cross the street. A three-member arbitration panel unanimously found that the intersection was not reasonably safe, that it contributed to cause the deaths, and assessed total damages for the client at $1,160,000.00.

David Ansley represented the widow and minor children of a 31-year-old man who was hospitalized for kidney stones. While hospitalized, the patient developed a perforated intestine due to underlying diverticulitis. This condition went untreated for three to four days, despite x-rays demonstrating air within the abdominal cavity. By the time the perforated bowel condition was diagnosed, the patient was gravely ill. As a result of his massive abdominal infection, the patient died.

David Ansley and Deborah Dodge represented a woman who was having an allergic reaction to the administration of heparin while in the hospital. The doctor managing her care did not discontinue the heparin, or request a hematological consult. As a result, the plaintiff suffered a debilitating stroke.

Surgical nurse injured her back moving a patient, awarded lifetime disability and medical benefits. Insurance company offered over $1,000,000.00 to settle, which was declined as it did not represent fair value.

David Ansley and Deborah Dodge represented a man who underwent lumbar surgery to alleviate symptoms of spondylolisthesis. The surgery involved an attempted back fusion. The fusion failed. After the surgery, the man underwent four additional surgeries within a nine month time frame, all of which were performed by the same doctor. After the fourth surgery, the man was unable to walk.

David Ansley represented a man who suffered a sore on the inside of his cheek. His oral surgeon diagnosed the lesion to be benign when in fact it was Stage I cancer. By the time it was diagnosed, the cancer had progressed to Stage III, requiring an 18-hour surgery to remove his cheek, all of his teeth and lymph nodes with reconstructive surgery.

Deborah Dodge represented the family of a man in a wrongful death case. The man went to the hospital and was admitted with a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. The surgeon diagnosed the patient's condition as Crohn's Disease and informed the patient he would need to change his diet. The doctor failed to diagnose the man's condition as ischemic bowel, requiring immediate surgery. Three days later the man died at another hospital from ischemic bowel.

David Ansley represented a man whose doctors failed to diagnose prostate cancer. The man's doctor failed to inform him of the existence of PSA testing. Several years later the man was referred to another physician who ordered a PSA test. This blood test revealed prostate cancer that had spread beyond the prostate gland. He was immediately referred to a urologist within the clinic, who informed him it was too late to treat the cancer. The plaintiff traveled to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion, where he underwent a radical prostatectomy.

David Ansley and Adam Pihana represented a husband in a wrongful death case involving his wife who underwent colon surgery, which was recommended because of suspected colon cancer. It turns out she did not have cancer. As she was recovering from surgery, she developed a serious infection that went undiagnosed for 3 days, which led to her death.

A physician claimed wrongful termination and was awarded over $750,000 by the jury.

David Ansley represented a 49-year-old woman who went to the ER with symptoms of transient ischemic attack (TIA). Her impending stroke was misdiagnosed as anxiety and she was discharged. She suffered a stroke the following day.

David Ansley represented a 63-year-old woman whose anal cancer was misdiagnosed as hemorrhoids. She and her husband brought suit, alleging the delay in diagnosis reduced her chance of surviving the disease.

David Ansley represented a 36-year-old nurse who underwent "tennis elbow" surgery to her right arm. During the surgery, the defendant cut the motor branch of the radial nerve resulting in significant loss of function in her dominant right arm.

David Ansley represented a 63-year-old male who sued his physical therapy group after hurting his back in an accident during therapy. The plaintiff was placed on a sliding traction table that gave way in the middle when he attempted to get off of it. The man suffered from a herniated disk and later developed a methicillin resistant staph infection as a result of back surgery.

Debbie Dodge represented a 48-year-old nurse who was injured in a vehicular accident and suffered from an exacerbation of her pre-existing neck pain. The nurse required two cervical fusions. She has a decreased range of motion in her neck, continued pain and reduced work expectancy. The case settled for the policy limits of the nurse's under-insured policy without the necessity of filing suit.

David Ansley represented a middle-aged man whose heart symptoms of extreme fatigue, sweating and pain were misdiagnosed as "Rabbit Fever." Before a correct diagnosis was made, the client suffered a heart attack, resulting in permanent heart damage as well as requiring the placement of a pacemaker.

David Ansley & Deborah Dodge represented a woman who underwent tarsal tunnel release procedures on both feet. During those surgeries, the doctor negligently cut the calcaneal nerves in both feet.

Deborah Dodge represented surviving spouse, adult and minor children of a man who presented to a VA hospital complaining of an extreme headache that woke him up from sleep. Three days later, without the benefit of having a neurological consult, he suffered from a massive stroke leading to his ultimate death. The family alleged loss of support, love and counsel among other the non-economic damages, along with future economic damages in maintaining the household as he had already retired from the military.

It represented a woman whose health care providers failed to diagnose and treat her developing kidney failure. The patient and her medical experts claimed the failure to treat her kidneys allowed her disease to develop rapidly, eliminating hopes of any treatment to slow down her kidney failure.

Deborah Dodge and Adam Pihana represented a 50-year-old woman who had surgery to address her hiatal hernia. In performing surgery, the doctor used tacks to secure mesh to the diaphragm that punctured the woman's heart sac (pericardium). Hours later, the woman became unstable. Emergency surgery was performed to address her heart condition. During the surgery, the woman's liver bled uncontrollably. Eventually, the woman was stabilized, was placed on a ventilator and received dialysis. Because of the condition created by the inappropriately placed tack, the woman suffered from repeat surgeries to address her hiatal hernia and scar tissue to her lungs causing development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that limits her ability to engage in daily living activities. Settlement was obtained against the doctor who performed the initial surgery.

Client suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). Mike obtained a disability settlement and lifetime medical treatment for his client.

Furniture salesman injured his back lifting a sofa. Case settled shortly before trial.

It represented a woman who suffered an internal injury during surgery. The injury allowed the woman's intestinal contents to leak into her abdomen, which resulted in an infection that traveled into the woman's blood stream. The infection became life threatening and resulted in a hospital stay of more than a month. The client suffered chronic fatigue, memory loss and muscle atrophy and weakness.

Employee of a major package delivery service hurt his back. Case settled after trial.

Trucker rear-ended another truck, suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and compression injuries to his abdomen requiring surgery. Case settled just before trial.

Over-the-road trucker injured after slipping and falling from a trailer. Administrative Law Judge awarded $35,000 in back benefits and ordered permanent and total disability benefits for life.

David Ansley and Deborah Dodge represented a woman who suffered from a delay in diagnosis of breast cancer. The woman went to a family practitioner, and the doctor recognized a lump in the breast measuring 2 cm and referred the woman for a mammogram. The mammogram was read as normal. Ten months later, the woman was diagnosed with breast cancer with lymph node involvement.

Employee in a single vehicle rollover truck wreck. Employer denied the case, but Mike obtained a court order for cervical fusion surgery and lifetime medical benefits, plus a cash payment for lifetime disability benefits.

David Ansley represented the family of a 63-year-old man who died of multiple myeloma, a form of bone cancer. Two and a half years before his death, he was diagnosed with osteoporosis despite medical tests consistent with multiple myeloma. These test results went unnoticed until the patient fell, breaking new bones. Similar diagnostic tests were repeated and correctly interpreted by a new physician. The correct diagnosis was made too late for effective therapeutic treatment.

Iron worker injured his back on a construction site. Obtained court order for necessary back surgery.

Debbie Dodge represented a wife and adult children involving the wrongful death of their elderly husband and father. The action was against a family physician that diagnosed the man as suffering from renal insufficiency, but failed to monitor the status of his kidney insufficiency. Unfortunately, he died from acute kidney failure that was diagnosed as enteritis.

Debbie Dodge represented a 62-year-old woman who went to the hospital with signs of stroke. The woman was a candidate for the use of tPA (a clot-busting drug). She was admitted for observation. She then again exhibited signs and symptoms of stroke. The admitting doctor was not notified in a timely manner. Instead of contacting the doctor of the woman's change in condition, the nurse started the patient on IV heparin, which precluded her from getting tPA treatment.

David Ansley represented the husband and children of a woman killed in a motor vehicle collision on Highway 13. The accident occurred when a vehicle drove past a stop sign and into the intersection of Highway 13, striking the vehicle of the woman. The family filed suit against the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission (MHTC), alleging that inadequate visibility and traffic controls on Route CC contributed to cause the accident. The jury ruled in favor of the family and requested that the MHTC improve the safety of intersection Route BB/CC.

Deborah Dodge represented a 32-year-old man who suffered from a kidney stone. The defendant surgeon recommended that he retrieve the stone and thereafter place a stent in the plaintiff's ureter. The doctor lost the stent and made several attempts at retrieving the stint, causing a portion of the ureter to die. The man had to have reconstructive surgery and continues to suffer from ongoing pain.

School teacher slipped and fell, breaking her left arm and chipping teeth. Administrative Law Judge ordered permanent and total disability benefits and reimbursement for past and future medical benefits.

Line worker developed carpal tunnel syndrome, leaving her unable to work. Coordinated Social Security disability benefits and obtained a lump sum cash award.

David Ansley and Adam Pihana represented a 74-year-old female who was involved in a motor vehicle accident with an uninsured motorist. She sued the driver of her car, the uninsured motorist who drove the other car, and her insurance company for uninsured motorist insurance benefits. The case ultimately settled for $175,000, which represented the policy limits of all insurance coverage available.

Debbie Dodge represented a 51-year-old woman who was traveling through Springfield, Missouri, to Pennsylvania. She and her husband decided to eat at a chain restaurant. The staff, in preparation of closing for the evening, cleaned the bathroom floor with a slick cleaner. The staff did not warn their customers of the condition of the floor or barricade the area. Without warning, the woman stepped in the restroom and immediately fell. She suffered from a full thickness tear of the ACL, with a complicated tear of the medial meniscus requiring reconstructive knee surgery. She was able to return to work but her recreational activities were limited.

Deborah Dodge represented a mother regarding the death of her three-month-old daughter who died from respiratory failure. The emergency room doctor discharged the child to home and misread the chest x-ray as normal. The child had been brought to the hospital because she had stopped breathing. The x-rays revealed extensive pneumonia in the infant's right lung.

Floor nurse fell and struck her hip, initially misdiagnosed. Administrative Law Judge awarded permanent and total disability benefits and lifetime medical care.

It represented a woman who underwent an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy, and during the procedure she experienced severe abdominal pain because the radiologist perforated the hepatic duct. The woman developed an abscess, severe bleeding and nearly died.

Employee of an electric company fell from a ladder, aggravating prior lower back problems. Administrative Law Judge ordered coverage for all medical treatment and back benefits.

Individual permanently and totally disabled from an on-the-job injury. Mike Mergen won a decision establishing new law on "statutory employers," leading to a lump sum equivalent to lifetime disability benefits and payment of medical bills.

Debbie Dodge represented a 79-year-old woman from Camden County, Missouri, who was injured in a car wreck while driving in Springfield through a major intersection. The wreck occurred when a vehicle t-boned into the woman's vehicle. She sustained soft tissue damages and a bulging disk in her lumbar spine.

David Ansley represented a man who went to a local ER with flu-like symptoms including diarrhea. The ER doctor ordered a stool sample based on a history of antibiotic-induced diarrhea. The pathologist determined that he suffered from clostridium difficile. While the ER had access to these lab results, the diagnosis was not communicated to either the patient or his family physician. As a result, the man had a perforated colon requiring surgery and removal of a portion of his colon.

Debbie Dodge represented a 68-year-old man who was to undergo surgery to his left great toe. The orthopedic surgeon and hospital failed to identify the correct toe and operated on the wrong great toe, causing superficial nerve damage.

Employee involved in a truck wreck that chipped his teeth and resulted in a minor back injury. Case settled shortly before trial.

Employee of an uninsured farm operation injured by a rolling hay bale, fracturing ribs and causing a collapsed lung. Administrative Law Judge ordered benefits from the uninsured employer and the Second Injury Fund.

Employee re-injured elbow when arm was pinned between a cherry picker bucket and a limb. Administrative Law Judge ordered reimbursement for medical treatment and payment of disability benefits and disfigurement.