Pettit Kohn Obtains $2.2 Million Jury Verdict in Product Liability Case

Press Release – Pettit Kohn Obtains $2.2 Million Jury Verdict in Product Liability Case

Pettit Kohn Ingrassia & Lutz PC, a San Diego, California law firm, announced today that Damian Dolin, Shareholder of the firm, obtained a $2.2 million verdict on behalf of his client in a product liability/personal injury case.

San Diego, Calif. – Pettit Kohn Ingrassia & Lutz PC, a San Diego, California law firm, announced today that Damian Dolin, Shareholder of the firm, obtained a $2.2 million verdict on behalf of his client in a product liability/personal injury case – Andrea Huber v. Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation, et al (Case No. 37-2008-00078376-CU-MM-CTL). Mr. Dolin tried the case before the Honorable Frederic L. Link of the San Diego County Superior Court (Central Division) and a jury panel of 12.

“I believed the jury would see that Richard Wolf’s product was unnecessarily dangerous. I hoped the jury would award Mrs. Huber damages commensurate with her injuries. We are very pleased with the $2.2 million verdict,” said Mr. Dolin.

According to court documents, Mrs. Huber underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove endometriosis on February 23, 2007. Defendant Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation designed, manufactured, and sold the unipolar laparoscopic coagulator wand used in the surgery. Stray electricity escaped from Richard Wolf’s medical device during surgery. The stray electricity damaged the wall of Mrs. Huber’s bowel, causing a significant perforation resulting in peritonitis.

The trial began in September 2010, and lasted ten days. The jury returned its verdict after two days of deliberation.

According to court records, the jury found Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation liable under both product liability and negligence causes of action. The jury deemed the coagulation device used during Mrs. Huber’s laparoscopic surgery to be both defectively and negligently designed.

“My client’s injuries could have been prevented. Mrs. Huber and I hope this verdict helps raise awareness about the dangers of certain laparoscopic medical devices,” said Mr. Dolin.

The $2.2 million verdict was intended to compensate Mrs. Huber for her past and future medical expenses, emotional distress and pain and suffering. In discussing the jury’s verdict, Mr. Dolin noted, “Andrea nearly died after her first surgery, and endured three more surgical procedures to address the damage done by Richard Wolf’s medical device. I am very pleased that the jury recognized the seriousness of Andrea’s injuries and lasting impact the injuries will have on her life.”

About Pettit Kohn Ingrassia & Lutz PC
Founded in 2006, Pettit Kohn Ingrassia & Lutz PC services and represents its clients in Federal and State courts throughout California from its San Diego office at 11622 El Camino Real, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92130; (858) 755-8500, and its Los Angeles office located at 9841 Airport Boulevard, Suite 1030, Los Angeles, CA 90045; (310) 649-5772. The firm’s practice includes Business Litigation, Civil & Trial Litigation, Employment & Labor, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Professional Liability, Real Estate, Restaurant & Hospitality, Retail, Transactional & Business Services and Transportation. For more information visit www.pettitkohn.com.

You can read the online version of the press release here.

Comments are closed.