02/27/2008
Eberstein & Witherite, LLP, Represents Family Awarded $1.8 Million in Damages for the Death of 78Year-Old Man Caused By Medical Error
Recent surveys have reported that the United States is one of the top five countries with the highest rate of medical errors contributing to the pain, suffering, and death of thousands of patients annually. Lawmakers, litigation attorneys, victims, and others are working together to right the wrongs in issues concerning healthcare safety, care coordination, and access to proper treatment. Texas law firm, Eberstein & Witherite, LLP, has been instrumental in helping victims and their families get the compensation they are entitled to under the law for this severe type of personal injury. With a recent multimillion-dollar lawsuit win for one Lubbock, Texas, family, the firm continues on its mission to help ensure that individuals get a higher quality of care from the medical industry.
Southwest Regional Specialty Hospital Accountability
In 2004, 78-year-old Jacob Perea died from a medical mistake attributed to the Southwest Regional Specialty Hospital. In a lawsuit filed against the rehab center, his family claims the patient was administered the medication Ativan twice during the course of treatment for a fracture, despite both his chart and wristband noting he was allergic to the medication. Represented by Eberstein & Witherite, the family recently won their personal injury claim, with the Southwest Regional Specialty Hospital being ordered to pay $1.8 million in damages. Assigning 10% liability to the rehab center’s pharmacy and 90% to Southwest, a Lubbock jury awarded the family $560,000 for costs and pain and suffering, and $1.25 million for punitive damages.
Eberstein & Witherite: an Advocate for Patients’ Rights
Son of Jacob Perea, Max Perea, says of the case, “I think this case brings a reminder to everyone who has a dad or a mom or a grandfather or a grandmother that if they are in medical care to ensure theyre getting the right medical care.” He and the attorneys of Eberstein & Witherite have hopes that the verdict will prompt the attention of policy makers and those with family members receiving patient care, and will lead to positive changes in medical practices everywhere.
Eberstein & Witherite specializes in various aspects of personal injury law, serving clients in claims related to:
• medical malpractice
• product liability
• accident injury
• insurance litigation
• automobile defects
• drug litigation
• business litigation
• and other claims relevant to Texas personal injury law
The firm’s attorneys have more than 40 years of combined practice experience. Senior partners of the firm include natives of Texas, which is indicative of Eberstein & Witherite’s strong ties to the communities they serve. They have been recognized in the news and other media for work on high-profile cases such as recent actions against food manufacturers for salmonella contamination and a large Dallas VA hospital investigation.
