Burg Simpson’s Medical Malpractice Team Secures $2.8 Million Verdict

Congratulations to Burg Simpson’s Medical Malpractice Team

Burg Simpson is pleased to congratulate the trial team consisting of lead counsel Paul D. Friedman, as well as Ronda Kelso, Jonathan Litster, and paralegal Laura Ramirez, who recently secured a $2.8 million verdict on behalf of their client in a complex medical malpractice case.

The plaintiff in this matter, Ms. Jill Dillon, was Burg Simpson’s client and a patient of Dr. Duane Pitt, M.D.  In 2016, Ms. Jill Dillon, a former heptathlete at ASU, saw Dr. Pitt, an orthopedic spine surgeon who recommended an anterior (frontal) fusion at C2-3 to be performed at his privately owned ambulatory surgical center.  Dr. Pitt did not obtain her previous medical records from another hospital which showed her C2-3 spine had spontaneously fused before he recommended surgery.

The doctor ultimately performed what the Burg Simpson trial team alleged was an unnecessary surgery.  Within ten minutes, he perforated her esophagus.  Ms. Dillion was then transported to a hospital with respiratory acidosis (high C02) and spent the evening in intensive care under sedation. Five days later, upon her discharge, her gastro tube became dislodged and required surgical repair. Following the surgery, she remained hospitalized for yet another four days. Two days following her release, she was re-admitted to the hospital with an infection from the dislodged gastro tube.

There were no pre-trial offers from the defendant in this matter because Dr. Pitt would not agree to any settlement discussions, and the case proceeded to trial. The jury deliberated for less than 45 minutes before the judge ordered all parties to return to the courtroom because the jury had reached a verdict.  Nine out of nine jurors ruled in favor of the plaintiff, and the Burg Simpson trial team successfully secured $2.8 million for Ms. Dillion. After the trial, Paul Friedman stated, “Jill Dillon is a client who deserved justice which is exactly what she received.”

 About Trial Lawyer Paul D. Friedman

Paul D. Friedman is a shareholder at Burg Simpson’s Arizona office. He practices in the areas of significant personal injury, wrongful death, ethics, and professional malpractice. Mr. Friedman previously served as an Adjunct Professor of Medical and Research Ethics at Midwestern University and the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. He instructed health care providers and graduate students in the medical field. Additionally, he authored the manual and taught attorneys and forensic experts in the Certified Forensic Consultant® program with the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute.

Paul graduated from the University of Arizona in 1985 (Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction), where he was admitted to the academic honorary society Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Friedman graduated from California Western School of Law in 1989 (Juris Doctorate Cum Laude). He served as an editor of the California Western Law Review-International Law Journal and was the chief editor of the California Western Directory. He received a post-doctoral master’s degree in bioethics in 2004 (Master of Arts in Bioethics). He graduated with the Outstanding Achievement Award from the College of Health Sciences at Midwestern University and Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine.  In addition, Paul received a doctorate in philosophy involving business, legal and medical ethics at LaCrosse University (2006).

Paul is double Board Certified by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification in Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy and Civil Trial Advocacy. He is also Certified in Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation by the State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal.

Paul is rated AV® Preeminent™ (the highest rating) by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and is rated Superb 10.0/10.0 (highest rating) by AVVO.

About Trial Lawyer Ronda M. Kelso

Ronda M. Kelso practiced law for five years with another law firm prior to joining Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, PC in 2017 after a hiatus in a national defense firm. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Kelso was a certified pediatric nurse.  Ms. Kelso entered the legal field after working with children, as a nurse consultant to hospitals, physicians, and individual clients and families with regard to medical malpractice claims.

About Trial Lawyer Jonathan W. Litster

Jonathan Litster is a trial attorney who advocates for individuals inside and outside of the courtroom. Jonathan represents plaintiffs in a broad range of tort litigation areas, including significant personal injury, insurance bad faith, and professional malpractice. Prior to joining Burg Simpson, Jonathan worked for several personal injury law firms, helping plaintiffs get what they deserve. Jonathan served as a judicial extern for the Honorable United States District Court Chief Judge David C. Nye where he observed all stages of litigation. Before relocating to Arizona, Jonathan worked as a Deputy Criminal Prosecutor for Ada County in Boise, Idaho.  Jonathan is licensed to practice law in Idaho and Arizona.

Jonathan Litster graduated from Brigham Young University where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Commercial Music. Having learned Spanish growing up, Jonathan lived for two years in Taiwan and learned to speak Mandarin Chinese as well. Jonathan received his Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law. While in law school, Jonathan served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Justice Joel D. Horton at the Idaho Supreme Court and observed the intricacies of appellate work. In addition to being selected Dean’s List, Jonathan was chosen by faculty to represent the University of Idaho College of Law in Baltimore, Maryland at the Peggy Browning Fund Workers’ Rights Conference. Jonathan joined the University of Idaho Family Justice Clinic, helping survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Jonathan externed with the James A. & Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research and presented to the Idaho Governor’s Salmon Workgroup.

Burg Simpson’s Medical Malpractice Team

If you have suffered a severe injury due to medical treatment, Burg Simpson’s medical malpractice attorneys will work with you to evaluate your case. In a medical malpractice lawsuit, the injured party bears the burden of proof, and this means we must work together to prove the following:

• Your healthcare provider made a mistake during your care, and
• Their mistake caused or exacerbated your injury or hampered your recovery; and
• You suffered damages significant enough to justify the costs and time associated with litigation and for which a jury can compensate you.

The Burg Simpson Medical Malpractice team has the experience and the resources to handle your case. If you believe that you were injured due to a healthcare provider’s negligence, please call our medical injury lawyers now to discuss your legal matter. Call Burg Simpson for help now at 888 895 2080.

About Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine

One of America’s foremost plaintiff trial firms, Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, has a longstanding national reputation for fighting relentlessly and successfully for victims of negligence, malfeasance, malpractice, and abuse. Our award-winning attorneys have never hesitated to fight for our client’s rights and consistently face and defeat formidable adversaries, including big insurance companies, big banks, and big pharma. As a result, Burg Simpson has secured more than $2.7 billion in verdicts, settlements, and judgments in practice areas spanning catastrophic personal injury, mass tort and class actions regarding gas explosions, dangerous pharmaceutical drugs and devices, medical malpractice, complex commercial and business litigation, construction defects, and workers’ compensation. The firm’s success has also included over 200 recoveries of more than $1 million.

Burg Simpson was founded in 1976 by distinguished American trial lawyer Michael Burg. Mr. Burg is an inductee into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Clarence Darrow Award. He has also been named to the 2016 RoundTable: America’s 50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers by The Trial Lawyer magazine; Law Week’s “Barrister’s Best” as “Best Civil Litigator”; and one of “America’s 50 Leading Trial Lawyers” by the U.S. Legal 500. Mr. Burg has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® and Super Lawyers®. Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine now has 70 lawyers and over 90 legal professionals. The firm is based in Colorado and has offices in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, California, and Wyoming.

Call Burg Simpson for help now at 888 895 2080.