Doctor Cleared in Robert Weinberg Wrongful Death Trial
Table of Contents
Case Background
On May 11, 2018, Robert Joseph Weinberg died following a period of medical care received at The Stamford Hospital. Subsequently, in the summer of 2020, the co-executors of his estate, Harlan R. Weinberg and John K. Weinberg, filed a sweeping wrongful death action against multiple medical parties associated with Mr. Weinberg’s treatment. The Plaintiffs initiated the lawsuit in the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Fairfield at Bridgeport, alleging medical malpractice and negligence against the hospital, its associated medical group, and several attending physicians and medical professionals.
Cause
The Plaintiffs accused the Defendants of causing Mr. Weinberg's death through multiple acts of alleged medical negligence. The lawsuit centered on claims that the medical team, including the physicians, hospital staff, and anesthesiology providers, failed to meet the accepted standard of care during Mr. Weinberg's treatment. These failures, the Plaintiffs contended, directly caused or substantially contributed to his death.
Injury
The core injury cited in the lawsuit was the wrongful death of Robert Joseph Weinberg. The Plaintiffs, acting on behalf of the deceased's estate, sought recovery for the total loss of life, including the pain and suffering Mr. Weinberg endured before his passing.
Damages Sought
The Estate sought significant monetary compensation, arguing that the Defendants were liable for all financial and non-financial losses resulting from the premature death. The demanded damages included compensation for lost earnings and earning capacity, the destruction of Mr. Weinberg’s capacity to enjoy life's activities, and reimbursement for medical, hospital, and funeral expenses the family incurred.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
This litigation involved numerous parties and several years of intense legal preparation before the matter proceeded to a jury trial. As the proceedings unfolded, the focus narrowed, culminating in a jury trial centered on the allegations against Dr. Michael Bernstein, M.D., a physician named as a key Defendant.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Harlan R. Weinberg | John K. Weinberg | Co-Executors of the Estate of Robert Joseph Weinberg
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Patrick J. Filan
· Experts for Plaintiff(s): W. Paul Murphy | David J Feller-Kopman | Harlan Richard Weinberg
Defendant(s): Dr. Michael Bernstein, M.D. (The initial suit also named The Stamford Hospital, Stamford Health Medical Group, Inc., Stamford Anesthesiology Services, P.C., Devon Jeffers, M.D., and Jen-Hwei Cheng, CRNA, among others.)
· Counsel for Defendant(s): Eric J. Stockman | Rebecca N. Brindley
· Experts for Defendant(s): Michael Adam Bernstein | Hans J. Lee | Gregory W. Fischer | Karl J. D'Silva
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
The trial became a classic battle over medical judgment, with both sides presenting vastly different narratives about what caused Mr. Weinberg's death.
Claims
The Estate’s attorneys charged Dr. Bernstein with negligence, asserting that his actions or inactions during Mr. Weinberg's treatment directly contributed to the patient’s negative outcome. They claimed that a reasonably competent physician, operating under the same circumstances, would have followed a different course of treatment, and that this failure constituted a breach of duty.
Defense
Attorneys defending Dr. Bernstein forcefully denied any negligence. They argued that the care provided at all times complied with the professional standard. The defense maintained that Mr. Weinberg suffered from serious underlying medical issues, and that his death resulted from the natural progression of his critical illness or other unavoidable complications, not from any malpractice on the part of Dr. Bernstein. The defense team urged the jury to consider the complexities of the medical situation and find that the physician acted competently and reasonably.
Jury Verdict
After hearing several weeks of testimony, reviewing the medical records, and listening to the final arguments, the jury began its deliberations. On September 18, 2025, the six-person jury in the Judicial District of Bridgeport returned their final decision to the Courtroom.
The jury found the issues decisively in favor of the Defendant, Michael Bernstein, M.D., and against the Plaintiffs, Harlan Weinberg and John Weinberg, Co-Executors of the Estate of Robert Weinberg. By rendering this verdict, the jury concluded that the Plaintiffs failed to prove that Dr. Bernstein acted negligently or that any alleged breach of the standard of care caused the death of Robert Joseph Weinberg. The defense verdict effectively cleared Dr. Bernstein of liability in the wrongful death claim brought by the Estate. The Court formally accepted the verdict that morning.