Insurer must pay $13.6M after hospital death

Hospital settles medical malpractice suits with two families for $5M

Pennsylvania Law Weekly, Monday, April 12, 2004

Date of Settlement: January 2004.
Court and Case Number: C.P. Luzerne, No. 2556-C-2002.
Type of Action: Negligence.
Injuries: Disc herniations at the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels.
Plaintiffs Attorney: David A. Aikens Jr., Hourigan Kluger & Quinn, Kingston.;
Defense Attorney: Edward Cermanski, Reading.
Plaintiffs Experts: Mitchell Freedman, D.O., Philadelphia; David Weinberger, Ph.D., Wilkes-Barre; S. Ross Noble, D.O., orthopedist, Reading; Patricia Chilled, certified rehabilitation counselor, Kingston; and Andrew Verzilli, Ph.D., economist, Kintnersville.
Defense Experts: N/A.

Comments:

On May 11, 1999, Raymond Skursky, a 35-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative, was injured when his vehicle was struck from the rear by a truck driven by an employee of Fox Hill Country Club, according to Skursky's attorney, David A. Aikens Jr. Skursky was traveling on River Road in Plains Township, Luzerne County, when the accident occurred.

As a result of the collision, Aikens said, Skursky suffered disc herniations requiring surgery. He made several attempts to return to his job but was unable to do so, his attorney said.

Skursky continues to stuffer from chronic back pain with radiculating right leg pain and lumbar disc disease, which has required ongoing physical therapy and medical treatment, Aikens said. He may require additional treatment in the future.

Skursky filed suit against Fox Hill in April 2001, and the case settled at the close of discovery, Aikens said. Defense counsel could not be reached for comment.