Our firm represented a family whose child suffered catastrophic injuries at birth due to negligent medical care during a late-term pregnancy procedure. Through aggressive litigation, including consultation with leading medical experts, we demonstrated that the medical team failed to follow basic safety rules, ignored obvious red flags, and caused permanent harm that will affect this child and family forever.
A recent Erie County Common Pleas Court case resulted in a record-setting $7.25 million verdict for Dr. David M. Irwin, a former chief of pain management at UPMC Hamot, who sued the hospital after a slip-and-fall accident. Irwin and his wife, Monica Zillen, were represented by the Pittsburgh-based law firm Lupetin & Unatin, with attorneys Brendan Lupetin and Greg Unatin leading the case. The verdict, delivered by a jury on September 12, 2025, is believed to be the largest of its kind in a slip-and-fall lawsuit in Erie County history.
A common and understandable concern for anyone considering a medical malpractice lawsuit is the cost of legal representation. Many people fear that they cannot afford to hire a skilled attorney, especially when facing mounting medical bills and lost wages. This is why the payment structure for these types of cases is so crucial.
When you have suffered a serious injury due to medical negligence, it’s not enough to hire just any attorney. The legal landscape of medical malpractice is exceptionally complex, and recent changes to Pennsylvania law have made it even more challenging to pursue a successful claim.
Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Pennsylvania is not as straightforward as filing a typical personal injury claim. The state has specific legal requirements designed to ensure that medical malpractice claims have a legitimate basis before they proceed through the costly and lengthy litigation process. Understanding these special prerequisites is essential for anyone considering legal action.
When you or a loved one suffers harm due to medical negligence, the thought of navigating the legal system can be overwhelming. You might wonder if you need a local attorney or if an out-of-state lawyer can represent you. While there might be some flexibility in certain legal areas, medical malpractice cases in Pennsylvania almost invariably require the expertise of an attorney licensed to practice in the Commonwealth.
Discovering that you or a loved one has been harmed due to medical negligence can be an overwhelming and distressing experience. Beyond the immediate health and possibly financial concerns, the legal process of seeking justice might seem daunting. In Pennsylvania, filing a medical malpractice lawsuit involves specific steps designed to ensure claims have merit. Understanding these steps is crucial for anyone considering legal action.
In Pennsylvania, there are specific legal elements that must be proven to establish medical malpractice against a doctor or other medical professional. To successfully pursue a medical malpractice claim in Pennsylvania, you must demonstrate the presence of four key elements, often referred to as the “four D’s” or the “four elements” (Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, Damages).
Establishing medical malpractice against a hospital or medical facility in Pennsylvania typically involves proving the same four elements (Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, Damages) as with individual practitioners, but the “dereliction” can stem from systemic failures or the actions of employees for whom the hospital is responsible.
SMA occlusion is a blockage of a major artery that supplies blood to the intestines. When this artery becomes blocked, the intestines are deprived of oxygen and can begin to die within just a few hours. This is a true medical emergency. Without immediate treatment, patients can suffer massive intestinal damage, develop severe infections like sepsis, or die.
Acute mesenteric ischemia is a life-threatening condition that occurs when blood flow to the small intestine (and sometimes the large intestine) is reduced or blocked. The loss of blood deprives the intestinal tissue of oxygen, leading to bowel necrosis, perforation, sepsis, and potentially death if not promptly reversed.
In many cases, CAUTIs are preventable. When hospitals, nursing homes, or healthcare providers fail to follow proper standards of care for catheter use, the result can be a severe infection, sepsis, prolonged hospitalization, or even death. In these cases, a catheter-associated infection may be a result of medical malpractice.
