$5.5M Verdict in Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia Medical Malpractice Case

Angela Cadavid Administrator of the Estate of Felix Mejia et al. vs. Stamford Health, Inc. et al.

Case Background

Plaintiff Angela Cadavid, Administrator of the Estate of Felix Mejia, filed the Medical Malpractice lawsuit on March 4, 2020, in the Connecticut State, Superior Court of Stamford-Norwalk Division (Case number: FST-CV20-6046034-S). Judge Edward T. Krumeich II presided over the case.

Cause

The case involved a medical malpractice claim against multiple healthcare providers. In September 2018, Felix Mejia sought medical care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut. He experienced symptoms related to chronic mesenteric ischemia. Despite multiple visits, he was discharged several times. Mejia was eventually admitted for further evaluation. He suffered cardiac arrest and underwent emergency surgery but died on the operating table.

Injuries

Felix Mejia suffered from severe chronic mesenteric ischemia. This condition affects blood flow to the intestines. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants failed to properly diagnose and treat this condition. Mejia experienced severe abdominal pain, nausea, and other related symptoms. His condition worsened, leading to cardiac arrest. The doctors required emergency surgery, during which he died.

Damages

The plaintiff sought both economic and non-economic damages. These included compensation for Mejia’s pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of life’s enjoyment. Angela Cadavid, Mejia’s widow, also claimed damages for loss of consortium and companionship.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

• Plaintiff(s): Angela Cadavid, Administrator of the Estate of Felix Mejia | Angela Cadavid
  • Counsel for Plaintiff: Michael R. Kennedy | Marco A. Allocca, Esq. | William H. Price, Esq.
  • Experts for Plaintiff(s): Steven B. Bird, M.D. | Richard G. Nellis, PA-C | William R. Bachman, M.D. | Apostolos K. Tassiopoulos, M.D.

• Defendant(s):Vanie Mangal, PA-C | Ryosuke Ito, D.O. | Emergency Medicine Physicians of New Haven County, LLC
  • Counsel for Defendants: Frederick J. Trotta | Nancy Valentino, Esq.
  • Experts for Defendant(s): Ben Taylor, PA-C | Peter L. Faries, M.D. | Jarrett M. Burns, D.O.

Claims

1. Failure to Diagnose: The plaintiff alleged that the defendants failed to properly diagnose Felix Mejia’s condition. Despite presenting with symptoms consistent with chronic mesenteric ischemia, the severity of his condition was not recognized. This failure led to inappropriate treatment decisions and delays in necessary care.
2. Negligent Treatment: The lawsuit claimed that the defendants provided negligent treatment to Mejia. They discharged him multiple times without addressing the underlying cause of his symptoms. The plaintiff argued that proper treatment would have involved admitting Mejia for further evaluation.
3. Failure to Admit: A key claim was the defendants’ alleged failure to admit Mejia in a timely manner. The plaintiff contended that Mejia’s symptoms and condition warranted immediate hospitalization. Outpatient management was not appropriate.
4. Inadequate Follow-up Care: The plaintiff claimed that the defendants failed to provide adequate follow-up care. This included not ensuring timely appointments with specialists. The urgency of his condition was not communicated to other healthcare providers.
5. Breach of Standard of Care: The lawsuit alleged that the defendants breached the accepted standard of care. Reasonably prudent healthcare providers would have taken different actions to diagnose and treat Mejia’s condition.
6. Wrongful Death: The most significant claim was for wrongful death. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants’ negligence directly led to Mejia’s death. Proper diagnosis and timely treatment could have prevented this.
7. Vicarious Liability: The inclusion of Emergency Medicine Physicians of New Haven County, LLC suggested a claim of vicarious liability. The company would be responsible for the actions of its employees or contractors.

Defense

The defendants argued that chronic mesenteric ischemia is usually treated on an outpatient basis. Referring Mejia to an outpatient vascular surgeon fulfilled their duty of care. The defense noted that the plaintiff’s experts had hindsight, knowing the final outcome, which the defendants did not. They also cited Mejia’s comorbidities to dispute the case value and challenge causation.

Expert Testimony

The plaintiffs’ experts explained the symptoms of chronic mesenteric ischemia. They described what healthcare providers should look for and how to interpret imaging results. They also discussed the appropriate treatment protocols. The experts argued that Mejia’s condition required in-hospital evaluation by a vascular surgeon.

Jury Verdict

On April 12, 2024, the jury awarded a total of $5.5 million in damages. The amount was split between Mejia’s estate and his widow, Angela Cadavid.

• Estate Damages: The jury awarded $4.5 million to Mejia’s estate. Dr. Ito was responsible for $3 million. Vanie Mangal was responsible for $1.5 million.
• Widow’s Damages: Angela Cadavid was awarded $1 million for loss of consortium. Dr. Ito was responsible for $667,000. Vanie Mangal was responsible for $333,000.

Court Documents:

Complaint

Answer

Jury Verdict