Upload
hoangnhi
View
216
Download
2
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
RETURN DATE: MAY 5, 2015 : SUPERIOR COURT
MICHAEL A. PALMER, II, : JUDICIAL DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF OF FAIRFIELD
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., DECEASED :
VS. : AT BRIDGEPORT
SCA, INC.; SURGICAL CARE
AFFILIATES, LLC; SURGERY CENTER :
OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, LLC;
SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD; :
FAIRFIELD ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES, LLC;
GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD; :
THE ORTHOPAEDIC & SPORTS MEDICINE
CENTER, P.C.; ABRAHAM MINTZ, MD;
ABRAHAM MINTZ, M.D., P.C. : MARCH 27, 2015
COMPLAINT
COUNT I: (MICHAEL A. PALMER, II, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., DECEASED VS. SCA, INC. AND SURGICAL CARE
AFFILIATES, LLC; SURGERY CENTER OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, LLC)
1. On or about, June 24, 2013, the plaintiff, MICHAEL A. PALMER, II, was appointed
Administrator of the Estate of his father, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., by the Court of Probate,
District of Stratford, Connecticut. (A copy of said appointment is attached hereto as Exhibit A.)
2. This wrongful death claim is being brought pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §52-555.
3. Prior to his death on or about May 6, 2013, at age 53, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., had been a long-time resident of Connecticut, the father of eight children, and
was employed as a bus driver for Connecticut Transit Authority.
2
4. At all times mentioned herein, the defendant, SCA, Inc., was a Delaware Corporation that, along
with SURGICAL CARE AFFILIATES, LLC, operated approximately 185 surgical facilities,
including outpatient surgery centers throughout the United States, one of which was the
SURGERY CENTER OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, LLC, (collectively referred to hereinafter as
the SURGERY CENTER), and was licensed to do business in the State of Connecticut.
5. The SURGERY CENTER was established for the purpose of providing selected patients with a
safe venue for out-patient surgical procedures in which to perform specific low-risk procedures
that did not require in-patient or overnight stays.
6. In order to determine which procedures were safe to perform at the center, the Governing Body
of the SURGERY CENTER reviewed the proposed procedures and compiled a list of approved
procedures with protocols for performing those procedures.
7. In furtherance of its goals, the SURGERY CENTER employed and engaged the services of
nurses, physicians, anesthesia personnel, and others as their agents, apparent agents, servants and
employees, and provided facilities and equipment for the performance of out-patient surgery.
8. In furtherance of its goals, the SURGERY CENTER also entered into joint-ventures and/or co-
management agreements with the other individuals, partnerships, LLC’s, and corporate
defendants, herein.
3
9. At all times mentioned herein the defendant, GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD., a part owner of the
SURGICAL CENTER, was an orthopedic surgeon who was employed by the defendant, THE
ORTHOPAEDIC & SPORTS MEDICINE CENTER, P.C., and was agent, apparent agent,
servant and employee of the SURGERY CENTER, and together with THE ORTHOPAEDIC &
SPORTS MEDICINE CENTER, P.C., was engaged in a joint-venture or other co-management
agreement with the SURGERY CENTER.
10. At all times mentioned herein the defendant, SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD, was an
employee of the defendant, FAIRFIELD ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES, LLC, and was agent,
apparent agent, servant and employee of the SURGERY CENTER, and, together with the
defendant, FAIRFIELD ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES, LLC, was engaged in a joint-venture or
other co-management agreement with the SURGERY CENTER, and was part owner of the
SURGERY CENTER.
11. At all times mentioned herein the defendant, ABRAHAM MINTZ, MD, was an employee of
ABRAHAM MINTZ, M.D., P.C., and was agent, apparent agent, servant and employee of the
SURGERY CENTER and, together with ABRAHAM MINTZ, M.D., P.C., was engaged in a
joint venture and/or other co-management agreement with the SURGERY CENTER and was
part owner of the SURGERY CENTER,
4
12. On or about April 13, 2013, and prior thereto, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER,
SR., was under the care and treatment of the defendant, GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD, for a
problem involving pain in the cervical spinal.
13. The defendant, GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD, prescribed a surgical procedure called an
“anterior discectomy and fusion” (ACDF) of the cervical spine at levels 3-4 and 4-5.
14. The plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., requested that the procedure be done at
St. Vincent’s Hospital; however, the defendant, GERARD J. GIRASOLE, M.D., advised him
that his insurance would not cover the procedure at St. Vincent’s Hospital and it needed to be
done in an outpatient facility, specifically the SURGERY CENTER.
15. On or about April 26, 2013 and for some time prior thereto, the plaintiff ‘s decedent, Michael A.
Palmer, was under the care of ABRAHAM MINTZ, MD., who was retained for the purpose of
performing the neurosurgical portion of the operation.
16. On May 6, 2013, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., arrived at the
SURGERY CENTER as directed. The SURGERY CENTER assigned the defendant, SANDRA
JOYCE CONGDON, MD, to serve as anesthesiologist for the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR.
5
17. The plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., was offered no choice regarding the
anesthesiologist who would perform the anesthesia at his surgery, had never before met the
defendant, SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD., and reasonably assumed that SANDRA
JOYCE CONGDON, MD, was an employee of the SURGERY CENTER and/or was under the
control and supervision of the SURGERY CENTER.
18. During the course of the surgical procedure, while under general anesthesia, a surgical assistant
pressed against the blood pressure cuff causing the reading to drop on the blood pressure
monitor, whereupon the defendant, SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD, negligently
administered a bolus of 4% Lidocaine, a toxic agent, mistaking it for the agent, Hespan.
19. When the plaintiff’s decedent began to react to the toxic agent the defendant, SARAH JOYCE
CONGDON, MD., called a “code blue,” administered emergency treatment to the plaintiff’s
decedent and ultimately called an ambulance to take plaintiff’s decedent, to St. Vincent’s
Hospital for emergency care.
20. After arriving at St. Vincent’s Hospital the plaintiff’s decedent expired.
21. The death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., was caused by the
negligence, corporate negligence and malpractice of the defendants, SCA, INC and SURGICAL
CARE AFFILIATES, LLC, and the SURGERY CENTER, and its nurses, agents, servants,
apparent agents, joint venturers and employees in that they:
6
a. failed to adequately and properly care for, treat, monitor, and supervise the
plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., before, during, and after the
procedure in which general anesthesia was administered;
b. violated Section 18-13-D56(c) of the Public Health Regulations of the State of
Connecticut by permitting the co–defendants to perform a double level ACDF on
the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., even though ACDF’S had
not been approved or authorized by the Governing Body of the SURGERY
CENTER;
c. permitted the performance of the procedure even though the facility was not
properly equipped or prepared for said procedure;
d. failed to perform the surgery in a hospital as requested by the plaintiff’s decedent,
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR.;
e. permitted the defendants to perform a double level ACDF even though it is a
procedure that carries considerable risk and often requires overnight stays in a
hospital;
f. permitted the defendants to perform the ACDF on the plaintiff’s decedent even
though he was not a fit candidate to have it performed in an outpatient setting;
g. failed to provide a properly set up operating room with necessary anesthetic
agents properly labeled, organized and readily available;
7
h. failed to provide proper nursing, pharmacy, and anesthesia support staff to assist
the defendant, SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD, in organizing the anesthetic
agents and in the performance of the anesthesia;
i. permitted 4% Lidocaine infusion bags to be in close proximity to drugs and
agents used for resuscitation, specifically Hespan;
j. provided and administered 4% Lidocaine to the plaintiff intravenously even
though it was toxic and inappropriate for use in this surgery;
k. failed to warn the anesthesiologist that 4% Lidocaine was being administered;
l. failed to inspect the operating suite to determine that the pharmaceutical agents to
be used and available for emergencies were the appropriate and necessary ones
for the surgery;
m. failed to adequately and properly assess, determine the cause of and treat the
decline in blood pressure that was shown on the blood pressure monitor;
n. failed to have in place and implement an adequate and proper plan to treat
medical, surgical and/or anesthesia complications and emergencies if they
occurred;
o. failed to have adequate and proper personnel and equipment to handle a medical,
surgical and/or anesthesia emergencies, including a well-trained code team and a
properly equipped code cart to handle medical emergencies ;
p. failed to have and enforce adequate rules, regulations and protocols to provide for
timely transfer in the event of medical emergencies;
8
q. failed to timely call for an ambulance to transport the patient to the hospital
following the medical emergency;
r. failed to communicate to the ambulance personnel and St. Vincent’s Hospital the
cause of the plaintiffs emergent condition;
s. negligently misdiagnosed the cause of the reduced blood pressure shown on the
monitor;
t. negligently treated the plaintiff for hypovolemia that did not exist;
u. failed to administer intralipid to the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER,
SR., following the administration of the 4% Lidocaine;
v. allowed surgeons with ownership interests in the SURGERY CENTER to
perform surgery without rules, regulations, protocols or supervision to prevent
conflicts of interest;
w. failed to have a functioning pharmacy, and/or anesthesia techs to provide for the
correct medications to be on hand and properly organized and to supervise the
administration of medications in the operating room;
x. failed to have properly trained nurses of other personnel to warn the defendant,
SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD, that she was administering the wrong
medication;
y. failed to stock intralipid and have it on hand to reverse the effects of the 4%
Lidocaine infusion;
9
z. failed adopt policies and practices insuring checks and balances, and redundancy
to prevent medication errors;
aa. failed to promulgate and/or enforce rules, regulations, standards and protocols for
the treatment of patients such as MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR.
22. As a result of the carelessness and negligence of the defendant, SCA, Inc. and SURGICAL
CARE AFFILIATES, LLC, and the defendant, SURGERY CENTER, and its servants, agents,
apparent agents, joint venturers and/or employees, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., suffered the following severe, serious, painful and permanent injuries:
a. respiratory depression and failure;
b. severe hypotension;
c. pulmonary edema;
d. cerebral edema;
e. hypoxia;
f. respiratory and cardiac arrest;
g. death.
23. As a result of the aforementioned injuries and death, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., has been permanently deprived of his ability to carry on and enjoy life’s
activities and his earning capacity has been forever destroyed.
10
24. As a further result of the aforesaid injuries and death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., his Estate has incurred expenses for medical care and hospital treatment and for
funeral expenses, all to its financial loss.
COUNT II: (MICHAEL A. PALMER, II, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., DECEASED VS. SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON,
MD; FAIRFIELD ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES, LLC)
1-20. Paragraphs 1-20 of Count I are hereby made Counts 1-20 of Count II.
21. The death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., was caused by the
negligence, and malpractice of the defendants, SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD, and
FAIRFIELD ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES, LLC, and their agents, servants, apparent agents,
joint venturers and employees in that they:
a. failed to adequately and properly care for, treat, monitor, and supervise the
plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., before, during, and after the
procedure in which general anesthesia was administered;
b. participated in the performance of a double level ACDF on the plaintiff’s
decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., even though ACDF’S had not been
approved or authorized by the Governing Body of the SURGERY CENTER;
c. participated in the performance of the procedure even though the facility was not
properly equipped or prepared for said procedure;
d. failed to perform the surgery in a hospital as requested by the plaintiff’s decedent,
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR.;
11
e. participated in the performance of a double level ACDF even though it is a
procedure that carries considerable risk and often requires overnight stays in a
hospital;
f. participated in the performance of the ACDF on the plaintiff’s decedent even
though he was not a fit candidate to have it performed in an outpatient setting;
g. failed to provide a properly set up operating room with necessary anesthetic
agents properly labeled, organized and readily available;
h. failed to provide an appropriately equipped and designed operating table for a
man of the weight and size of the plaintiff’s decedent;
i. failed to arrange for proper nursing, pharmacy, and anesthesia support staff to
assist the defendant, SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD, in organizing the
anesthetic agents and in the performance of the anesthesia;
j. permitted 4% Lidocaine infusion bags to be in close proximity to drugs and
agents used for resuscitation, specifically Hespan;
k. provided and administered 4% Lidocaine to the plaintiff intravenously even
though it was toxic and inappropriate for use in this surgery;
l. failed to inspect the agent she was administering to determine that it was 4%
Lidocaine and not Hespan;
m. failed to inspect the operating suite prior to surgery to determine that the
pharmaceutical agents to be used and available for emergencies were the
appropriate, necessary and properly organized for the surgery;
12
n. failed to adequately and properly assess, determine the cause of, and treat the
decline in blood pressure that was shown on the blood pressure monitor;
o. failed to have in place and implement an adequate and proper plan to treat
anesthesia complications and emergencies if they occurred;
p. failed to have a properly equipped code cart to handle medical emergencies ;
q. failed to timely call for an ambulance to transport the patient to the hospital
following the medical emergency;
r. failed to communicate to the ambulance personnel and St. Vincent’s Hospital the
cause of the plaintiffs emergent condition;
s. negligently misdiagnosed the cause of the reduced blood pressure shown on the
monitor;
t. negligently treated the plaintiff for hypovolemia that did not exist;
u. failed to administer intralipid to the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., following the administration of the 4% Lidocaine;
v. failed to have intralipid on hand to reverse the effects of the 4% Lidocaine
infusion;
w. failed adopt policies and practices insuring checks and balances, and redundancy
to prevent medication errors.
13
22. The death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., was due to the failure of the
defendant, SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD, to obtain proper informed consent from
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., by failing to properly advise of the risks and alternatives to
having his surgery performed at the SURGERY CENTER as opposed to a hospital including, but
not limited to, his increased risk of injury due to his history of sleep apnea, size and weight; the
risk that medication errors were more likely because the SURGICAL CENTER did not have
inspection protocols and redundancy procedures in place to prevent medication errors; the risk
attendant to the fact that the Surgery Center had no emergency staff or code team readily
available in the event of an emergency; the risk of needing to be transported to a hospital in
event of an emergency; the risk of having no inspection of the operating suite prior to surgery;
and the risk of not having available a full range of pharmaceutical products and personnel to
handle emergencies should they occur; and the benefit of performing the procedure in a hospital
with experience, well-established procedures, protocols, and personnel for anesthesia, surgical
and emergency care.
23. As a result of the carelessness and negligence of the defendants, SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON,
MD, and FAIRFIELD ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES, LLC, and their servants, agents, apparent
agents, joint venturers and/or employees, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR.,
suffered the following severe, serious, painful and permanent injuries:
a. respiratory depression and failure;
b. severe hypotension;
14
c. pulmonary edema;
d. cerebral edema;
e. hypoxia;
f. respiratory and cardiac arrest;
g. death.
24. As a result of the aforementioned injuries and death, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., has been permanently deprived of his ability to carry on and enjoy life’s
activities and his earning capacity has been forever destroyed.
25. As a further result of the aforesaid injuries and death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., his estate has incurred expenses for medical care and hospital treatment, and for
funeral expenses, all to its financial loss.
COUNT III: (MICHAEL A. PALMER, II, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., DECEASED VS. GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD; THE
ORTHOPAEDIC & SPORTS MEDICINE CENTER, P.C.)
1.-20. Paragraphs 1-20 of Count I are hereby made Counts 1-20 of Count III.
21. The death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., was caused by the
negligence, and malpractice of the defendants, GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD; THE
ORTHOPAEDIC & SPORTS MEDICINE CENTER, P.C., and their agents, servants, apparent
agents, joint venturers and employees in that they:
15
a. failed to adequately and properly care for, treat, monitor, and supervise the
plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., before, during, and after the
procedure in which general anesthesia was administered;
b. ordered the double-level ACDF to be performed at the SURGERY CENTER even
though the procedure was not on the list of procedures approved and authorized
by the Governing Body of the SURGERY CENTER;
c. proceeded to perform the unauthorized surgery even though the facility was not
properly equipped or prepared for said procedure;
d. arranged for the double-level ACDF at the SURGERY CENTER even though it is
a procedure that carries considerable risk and often requires over-night stays in a
hospital;
e. arranged for the double-level ACDF at the SURGERY CENTER even though the
plaintiff’s decedent was not a fit candidate to have the procedure performed at
THE SURGERY CENTER;
f. failed to perform the surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital as requested by the
plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR.;
g. miss-advised the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., that the cost
of the surgery would not be covered by medical insurance if performed at St.
Vincent’s Hospital;
h. failed to have in place an adequate and proper plan to treat medical, surgical,
and/or anesthesia complications if they occurred;
16
i. failed to timely call for an ambulance to transport the patient to the hospital
following the medical emergency;
j. failed to render proper emergency treatment to the plaintiff’s decedent,
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., following the administration of the 4% Lidocaine;
22. The death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., was due to the failure of the
defendant, GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD, to obtain proper informed consent from MICHAEL
A. PALMER, SR., by failing to advise him of the risks and alternatives to having his surgery
performed at the SURGERY CENTER as opposed to a hospital including, but not limited to: his
increased risk of injury due to his history of sleep apnea, size and weight; the risk that
medication errors were more likely because the SURGICAL CENTER did not have inspection
protocols and redundancy procedures in place to prevent medication errors; the risk attendant to
the fact that the SURGERY CENTER had no emergency staff or code team readily available in
the event of an emergency; the risk of needing to be transported to a hospital in event of an
emergency; the risk of having no inspection of the operating suite prior to surgery; the risk that
the SURGERY CENTER lacked experience and expertise in preparing for and conducting
surgery of this type; the risk of not having available a full range of pharmaceutical products and
personnel to handle emergencies should they occur; the risk of performing unauthorized surgery;
the risk of performing a double-level ACDF when the SURGERY CENTER had not established
safety rules and protocols for its performance; the benefit of performing the procedure in a
17
hospital with experience, well-established procedures, protocols, and personnel for anesthesia,
surgical and emergency care.
23. As a result of the carelessness and negligence of the defendants, GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD;
THE ORTHOPAEDIC & SPORTS MEDICINE CENTER, P.C., and their servants, agents,
apparent agents, joint venturers and/or employees, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., suffered the following severe, serious, painful and permanent injuries:
a. respiratory depression and failure;
b. severe hypotension;
c. pulmonary edema;
d. cerebral edema;
e. hypoxia;
f. respiratory and cardiac arrest;
g. death.
24. As a result of the aforementioned injuries and death, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., has been permanently deprived of his ability to carry on and enjoy life’s
activities and his earning capacity has been forever destroyed.
25. As a further result of the aforesaid injuries and death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., his estate has incurred expenses for medical care and hospital treatment, and for
funeral expenses, all to its financial loss.
18
COUNT IV: (MICHAEL A. PALMER, II, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., DECEASED VS. ABRAHAM MINTZ, MD;
ABRAHAM MINTZ, M.D., P.C.)
1.-20. Paragraphs 1-20 of Count I are hereby made Counts 1-20 of Count IV.
21. The death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., was caused by the
negligence, and malpractice of the defendants, ABRAHAM MINTZ, MD; ABRAHAM MINTZ,
M.D., P.C., and their agents, servants, apparent agents, joint venturers and employees in that
they:
a. failed to adequately and properly care for, treat, monitor, and supervise the
plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., before, during, and after the
procedure in which general anesthesia was administered;
b. ordered the double-level ACDF to be performed at the SURGERY CENTER even
though the procedure was not on the list of procedures approved by the Governing
Body of the SURGERY CENTER;
c. proceeded to perform the unauthorized surgery even though the facility was not
properly equipped or ready for said procedure;
d. arranged for the double-level ACDF at the SURGERY CENTER even though it is
a procedure that caries considerable risk and often requires over-night stays in a
hospital;
19
e. arranged for the double-level ACDF at the SURGERY CENTER even though the
plaintiff’s decedent was not a fit candidate to have the procedure performed at
THE SURGERY CENTER;
f. failed to perform the surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital as requested by the
plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR.;
g. miss-advised the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., that the cost
of the surgery would not be covered if performed at St. Vincent’s Hospital;
h. failed to have in place an adequate and proper plan to treat medical, surgical,
and/or anesthesia complications if they occurred;
i. failed to timely call for an ambulance to transport the patient to the hospital
following the medical emergency;
j. failed to render proper emergency treatment to the plaintiff’s decedent,
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., following the administration of the 4% Lidocaine;
22. The death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., was due to the failure of the
defendant, ABRAHAM MINTZ, MD, to obtain proper informed consent from MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., by failing to advise him of the risks of having his surgery performed at the
SURGERY CENTER as opposed to a hospital including, but not limited to: his increased risk of
injury due to his history of sleep apnea, size and weight; the risk that medication errors were
more likely because the SURGICAL CENTER did not have inspection protocols and redundancy
procedures in place to prevent medication errors; the risk attendant to the fact that the
20
SURGERY CENTER had no emergency staff or code team readily available in the event of an
emergency; the risk of needing to be transported to a hospital in event of an emergency; the risk
of having no inspection of the operating suite prior to surgery; the risk that the SURGERY
CENTER lacked experience and expertise in preparing for and conducting surgery of this type;
the risk of not having available a full range of pharmaceutical products and personnel to handle
emergencies should they occur; the risk of performing unauthorized surgery; the risk of
performing a double-level ACDF when the SURGERY CENTER had not established safety
rules and protocols for its performance; the benefit of performing the procedure in a hospital
with experience, well-established procedures, protocols, and personnel for anesthesia, surgical
and emergency care.
23. As a result of the carelessness and negligence of the defendants, ABRAHAM MINTZ, MD and
ABRAHAM MINTZ, M.D., P.C., and their servants, agents, apparent agents, joint venturers
and/or employees, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., suffered the following
severe, serious, painful and permanent injuries:
a. respiratory depression and failure;
b. severe hypotension;
c. pulmonary edema;
d. cerebral edema;
e. hypoxia;
21
f. respiratory and cardiac arrest;
g. death.
24. As a result of the aforementioned injuries and death, the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., has been permanently deprived of his ability to carry on and enjoy life’s
activities and his earning capacity has been forever destroyed.
25. As a further result of the aforesaid injuries and death of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A.
PALMER, SR., his estate has incurred expenses for medical care and hospital treatment, and for
funeral expenses, all to its financial loss.
22
WHEREFORE, THE PLAINTIFF, MICHAEL A. PALMER, II, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
ESTATE OF MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., CLAIMS DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF FIFTEEN
THOUSAND ($15,000.00) DOLLARS.
23
Of this writ, with your doings thereon, make due service and return.
Dated at Bridgeport, Connecticut, this 27th day of March, 2015.
JOEL H. LICHTENSTEIN
Commissioner of the Superior Court
For Fairfield County
KINDLY ENTER THE APPEARANCE OF:
KOSKOFF, KOSKOFF & BIEDER, P.C.
350 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
203-336-4421 phone
203-368-3244 fax
32250 Juris Number
FOR THE PLAINTIFF
24
RETURN DATE: MAY 5, 2015 : SUPERIOR COURT
MICHAEL A. PALMER, II, : JUDICIAL DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF : OF FAIRFIELD
MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR., DECEASED :
VS. : AT BRIDGEPORT
SCA, INC.; SURGICAL CARE
AFFILIATES, LLC; SURGERY CENTER :
OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, LLC;
SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD; :
FAIRFIELD ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES, LLC;
GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD; :
THE ORTHOPAEDIC & SPORTS MEDICINE
CENTER, P.C.; ABRAHAM MINTZ, MD;
ABRAHAM MINTZ, M.D., P.C. : MARCH 27, 2015
CERTIFICATION
I, JOEL H. LICHTENSTIEN, hereby certify that I have made reasonable inquiry, as permitted
by the circumstances, to determine whether there are grounds for a good faith belief that there has been
negligence in the care and treatment of the plaintiff’s decedent, MICHAEL A. PALMER, SR. This
inquiry has given rise to a good faith belief on my part that grounds exist for an action against the
defendants, SCA, INC. and its servants, agents, apparent agents and/or employees; SURGICAL CARE
AFFILIATES, LLC, and its servants, agents, apparent agents and/or employees; SURGERY
CENTER OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, LLC, and its servants, agents, apparent agents and/or
employees; SANDRA JOYCE CONGDON, MD and her servants, agents, apparent agents and/or
employees; FAIRFIELD ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES, LLC, and its servants, agents, apparent
agents and/or employees; GERARD J. GIRASOLE, MD and his servants, agents, apparent agents
and/or employees; THE ORTHOPAEDIC & SPORTS MEDICINE CENTER, P.C., and its servants,
agents, apparent agents and/or employees; ABRAHAM MINTZ, MD and his servants, agents, apparent
agents and/or employees; ABRAHAM MINTZ, M.D., P.C., and its servants, agents, apparent agents
and/or employees.
25
THE PLAINTIFF,
BY:
JOEL H. LICHTENSTEIN
Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, PC
350 Fairfield Aveue
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: 203-336-4421
Fax: 203-368-3244
Juris Number: 032250
26