Dean vs. Johns

Outcome: Held an Alabama doctor subject to Florida law

Description: My client saw a neurosurgeon in Florida who sent her to a neurologist in Alabama. The Alabama neurologist misdiagnosed her and sent a letter to the Florida doctor who, based on the letter, performed an unnecessary operation and failed to remove the tumor that was the real source of her problems. We sued both doctors. The Alabama doctor contended that he could not be sued in Florida because he never saw the Plaintiff in Florida. We established on appeal that he was subject to Florida law. This is a very important decision. Many doctors now treat patients over the Internet or see them on referral from Florida physicians, and it is critical that they be held accountable in their patients in Florida.