Located in Mattoon and Mt. Vernon Illinois
Craig & Craig practices law throughout Central and Southern Illinois.
Firm News
Paul R. Lynch and Julie A. Webb, Partners in the Mt. Vernon Office of Craig & Craig, completed a five-day jury trial in the Circuit Court of Clinton County, in Carlyle, Illinois, on February 10, 2012, with a defense verdict in a case of claimed medical malpractice. Mr. Lynch and Ms. Webb represented Dr. Dean H. Matsuura and his former employer, Physician Services Corporation of Southern Illinois, d/b/a St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Medical Group.
From June, 2003, through November, 2005, Darren Flanagan was a patient of the Family Health Center of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan in Centralia, Illinois. Mr. Flanagan was diagnosed with Stage IV gastric cancer in late 2005, and died on December 25, 2006.
During Mr. Flanagan’s visits to the Family Health Center, he was seen and treated by Agnes Boehning, who is a nurse practitioner, and was then employed by St. Mary’s Good Samaritan, Inc. Dr. Matsuura was practicing internal medicine at the Family Health Center, and was Ms. Boehning’s "collaborating physician." Dr. Matsuura reviewed and approved Ms. Boehning’s office notes for Mr. Flanagan.
Plaintiff contended that the Defendants were negligent in failing to provide appropriate care and follow-up when Darren Flanagan reported to Agnes Boehning on August 2, 2004, that he had "black, tarry stools at times," resulting in delay of diagnosis.
The Defendants denied any negligence, and further claimed that Darren Flanagan was contributorily negligent, by failing to keep appointments at the Family Health Center and by failing to keep an appointment with a gastroenterologist, Dr. Stephen Ang of Centralia, on August 9, 2004.
At the conclusion of the trial, the jury deliberated for approximately one hour, and returned a verdict of "no liability" in favor of all of the Defendants.