$5,650,000.00 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for a client for the failure to identify and properly evaluate a thymic mass that was identified on CT scan. For two years the patient had multiple pulmonary symptoms and despite the thymic mass having been identified on CT, her physicians failed to biopsy the mass. As a result of the delay in treatment the mass, which was ultimately determined to be malignant, caused encephalopathy (a brain disease) that resulted in the patient loosing 85% if her short term memory.

$3,500,000.00 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for the negligent prescription of Wellbutrin to a 36-year-old female patient following a seizure despite manufacturers warnings about the increased risk of seizure. The medication was prescribed in double the recommended dose and cause the patient to suffer a second seizure during which she fell and hit her head resulting in a significant traumatic brain injury requiring 24 hour a day care.

$2,000,000.00 Pre-Litigation Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for a client for the failure to diagnose lung cancer. For almost three years the patient had multiple chest CT scans and on each scan a lung nodule was identified. Each time the radiologist recommended a biopsy to rule out malignancy. Despite seeing multiple specialists who acknowledged the CT reports, no one told the patient about the lung nodules or ordered any further work up. By the time he was diagnosed he had terminal Stage IV lung cancer.

$900,000.00 Pre-Litigation Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for a client for the failure to diagnose breast cancer. The 37-year-old patient complained to her PCP about a breast lump and pain. Because she had recently finished breast-feeding her newborn the doctor advised her to wear two sports bras and start taking birth control. Over the course of the next year, she continued to complain about the same lump and pain and requested a mammogram. The doctor offered her a tele-health visit and did not order a mammogram. Months later the patient again asked for a mammogram and breast exam and after almost two years a breast exam was finally performed. By the time she was diagnosed she had Stage III invasive ductal carcinoma.

$250,000.00 Pre-Litigation Settlement

Under Insured Motorist

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for a client who was hit by a drunk driver that did not have insurance. The client was stopped at a red light when he was hit from behind by an intoxicated driver. The client suffered a loss of consciousness at the scene and was transported to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion. Over the next several months the client suffered headaches, fatigue, brain fog and had sensitivity to light. He was unable to work for 9 months. Ms. Martel obtained the full policy limits of his UIM policy.

$ 823,653.00  Arbitration Award

Wrongful Death

Ms. Martel was co-counsel in an arbitration against Kaiser’s physicians who failed to properly treat the patient’s short bowel syndrome resulting in significant weight loss, kidney failure, deconditioning and ultimately her death.

$752,500 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for her client whose leg was amputated as a result of medical negligence. The patient was admitted to the hospital for treatment of a blood clot in his leg. The doctors were treating him with the blood thinner, tPa. Overnight the tPa caused massive internal bleeding which, despite being admitted to the ICU, no health care provider identified until the patient suffered a code blue the following day. As a result of the massive blood loss the patient lost his leg.

$799,500 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for her client for the failure of the orthopedic surgeon to appropriately monitor and treat a post operative foot infection. The infection resulted in osteomyelitis and required multiple surgeries and resulting in permanent disability.

$625,000 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for her client who suffered a stroke as a result of medical negligence. The 81-year-old was admitted to a nursing facility to recover from hip surgery. The admitting doctor discontinued her blood thinner, Eliquis and failed to restart it. As a result, she developed a blood clot that traveled to her brain causing a stroke.

$5,258,636.36 Arbitration Award

Medical Negligence – Graves v. Kaiser

Ms. Martel was co-counsel in an arbitration against Kaiser for failure to properly and timely address post operative nerve pain following a fibroid removal surgery. The never injury resulting in permanent nerve damage and pain.

$588,351.61 Trial Verdict

Katie Hunt v. Steven Drosman, M.D.

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a verdict for her client following the negligent performance of laparoscopy surgery for endometriosis resulting in perforated bowel requiring colostomy bag for a 17 year old.

$4,850,000.00 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel was co-counsel representing a 1 year old baby who was born with GA1, which is a metabolic abnormality in which the patient’s body is unable to breakdown the amino acids which give rise to elevated levels of glutaric acid. Such babies require a strict diet, especially when sick. Her client became ill, and his physicians failed to appropriately monitor and treat him given his condition resulting in a significant brain injury.

$3,929,198.00 Trial Verdict

Skaggs v. Frederick Howden, M.D.

Ms. Martel obtained a jury verdict in a wrongful death case arising out of the negligent care and treatment by cardiothoracic surgeon, Defendant Dr. Frederick Howden provided to Shane Skaggs following an aortic valve replacement surgery. In the immediate post operative period Mr. Skaggs showed signs of a serious and ominous complications, he was hypoxic, acidotic, he was in cardiogenic shock and his EKG showed signs of myocardial infarct. Dr. Howden recognized Mr. Skaggs recovery was compromised yet, he wrote it all off as “typical post operative and expected findings” and failed to investigate the cause of Mr. Skaggs decline. With no intervention, Mr. Skaggs died 7 hours after surgery.

$675,000.00  Settlement

Pedestrian v Automobile

Ms. Martel assisted in obtaining a settlement for her client who was hit by a delivery van while she was crossing the street. The impact caused her client to briefly lose consciousness and resulting in a broken elbow.

$672,000.00 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for her client who suffered a bowel perforation following spinal surgery. The physicians following her care failed to take her post operative pain complaints seriously resulting in the delay diagnosis and a bowel perforation requiring a colostomy bag.

$475,000.00 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Medical Resident improperly performed a physical exam on a minor without consent and without a chaperone or parent present.

$526,852.00 Arbitration Award

Wrongful Death

Ms. Martel was co-counsel in an arbitration against Kaiser alleging the failure to appropriate and timely diagnose a bowel perforation following cholecystectomy that resulted in their client’s death.

$550,000.00 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for her client who suffered a brain injury as  result of her surgeon’s failure to appropriately monitor her laboratory values following a Rou-en-Y surgery. Due to malabsorption and a vitamin B1 deficiency her client was diagnosed with Wernicke’s encephalopathy.

$3,547,031.00 Arbitration Award

Quinones v. Kaiser

Ms. Martel was co-counsel in an arbitration alleging failure to diagnose prostate cancer. Mr. Quinones reported to his physician that he had to urinate several times at night (nocturia). His physician noted an enlarged prostate but failed to order, or even discuss ordering, a PSA blood test (which can detect prostate cancer). As a result Mr. Quinones’ cancer went untreated for two year and advanced  to an incurable stage.

$475,000.00 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for her client for the failure of an ophthalmologist to diagnose and refer her client to specialist concerning his third nerve palsy. As a result of the delay his pituitary tumor was able to grow and ultimately hemorrhage causing him to suffer a stroke.

$150,000.00 Settlement

Premises Liability

Ms. Martel was able to obtain a settlement for her 12-year-old client who was swimming in an indoor pool at a hotel in Palmdale when he inhaled toxic fumes resulting in a lung injury, reactive airway disease. The hotel had failed to properly maintain the pool’s ventilation and filter systems.

$375,000.00 Settlement

Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for her client who suffered a nerve injury during an open reduction and internal fixation surgery on his left arm. The surgeon transected her clients posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) by inserting a screw directly into the nerve requiring subsequent surgery.

$300,000. Bench Trial

Skiba v. Sherman – Medical Negligence

Ms. Martel obtained a verdict for her client who suffered from an infection following breast implant surgery. The surgeon failed to appropriately monitor and treat the infection allowing resulting in necrotic tissue and requiring multiple surgeries and resulting in permanent scarring.

$548,911.00 Trial Verdict

Uriell v. The Regents of the University of California

Medical Negligence – Wrongful Death

Ms. Martel was co-counsel in a case where decedent Barbara Kastan presented to a UCSD surgical oncologist for a new mass in her left breast. Mrs. Kastan had a significant family history of breast cancer; 14 women in her family died of breast cancer. She had a negative mammogram and ultrasound and her surgeon told her to return in 12 months. The surgeon failed to order an MRI or biopsy on the palpable mass and Mrs. Kastan returned with Stage IV breast cancer and passed away as a result of her cancer.

$500,000 Settlement

Automobile Accident

Ms. Martel obtained a settlement for her client following a motor vehicle accident resulting in neck and back pain. Her client had a C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion which caused permanent nerve pain to her right arm, and hand.