Attorney Gregory Forrest Coplan's Legal Cases

Medical malpractice

Backus v. Freeport Memorial Hospital, et al.

Apr 07, 2014

OUTCOME: $10,000,000 settlement

Jacob Backus went to the Emergency Room twice in three days, complaining of symptoms consistent with a TIA or "mini-stroke." Both times, he was sent home without appropriate testing, treatment, or a r ... eferral to a neurologist for evaluation. Within several hours of being discharged, Jacob suffered a stroke at home, and was brought back to the ER by ambulance, with a presumed diagnosis of stroke. The ER staff called a consulting neurologist shortly after midnight, but the neurologist refused to come to the hospital to evaluate Jacob, or order clot-busting medication ("tPA") to treat Jacob. As a result, Jacob's stroke progressed, and he was rendered a quadriplegic.

Car accident

Lev v. O'Neill

May 05, 2010

OUTCOME: $5.6 million settlement for Plaintiff

Aleksandr Lev was a 12-year-old passenger in a car being driven by his father, who turned left in front of an SUV being driven by a 23-year-old college student, resulting in a collision. Aleksandr was ... rendered a quadriplegic as a result of that crash. The insurer for Aleksandr's father paid $100,000 (the limit of coverage under his policy) and the other driver's insurer paid $5.5 million. Because of this settlement, Aleksandr's future medical needs will be paid for entirely.

Birth injury

Law v. OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, et al.

Apr 29, 2009

OUTCOME: $12,000,000 settlement

This was the highest recorded settlement in Winnebago County history for any type of case. Jeremy Law suffered profound anoxic brain injury during the delivery process as a result of placental abrupti ... on (where the placenta separates from the mother's uterus). The nursing staff failed to confirm Jeremy's position when his mother first came to the hospital and before starting augmentation of labor with Pitocin. Jeremy was in breech position (his bottom and not his head was down) and therefore, the delivering obstetrician would never have attempted vaginal delivery but have done a cesarean section long before the placental abruption occurred. If that had been done, Jeremy would have been delivered as a normal, healthy infant.

Personal injury

Fresco v. Illinois RailNet, Inc., et al.

Dec 28, 2007

OUTCOME: $2.8 million settlement for Plaintiff

Francisco, an intoxicated homeless man, was a pedestrian crossing a railroad bridge after dark when he was struck by a train operated by an Illinois RailNet crew and severely injured. In discovering t ... he facts in this case, we learned the train's engineer was using a personal cellular telephone as the train entered the bridge and also, that the conductor was positioned on the front of the train, in violation of railroad policies.

Medical malpractice

Adam Freeman, a minor, v. St. Mary's Hospital, et al.

Jun 15, 2006

OUTCOME: $1,300,000 settlement for Plaintiff

Adam was injured during birth as a result of a shoulder dystocia. Errors by the obstetrician and delivery nurse during his birth caused a permanent injury to his brachial plexus, the bundle of nerves ... for Adam's right arm.

Medical malpractice

Zissler v. OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, et al.

Mar 04, 2005

OUTCOME: $1,750,000 settlement for Plaintiff

Gary Zissler, a 46-year-old diesel mechanic, was injured as a result of the improper use of neck traction during the treatment of a lower back strain. This improper therapy resulted in a neck injury r ... equiring surgery and limiting Gary to light duty work for the rest of his life.

Wrongful death

Mary Miller, Administrator of the Estate of Jesse Miller, Deceased, v. Alexander

N/A

OUTCOME: $7,000,000 verdict for Plaintiff

Jesse Miller, a college student, was killed in an altercation with his father, LeRoy Alexander. The verdict included compensation in the amount of $6,000,000 for the loss of society suffered by Jesse' ... s mother, Mary Miller, and punitive damages of $1,000,000 assessed against the defendant.

Gregory Forrest Coplan's Legal Cases (7)

Backus v. Freeport Memorial Hospital, et al.

Lev v. O'Neill

Law v. OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, et al.

Fresco v. Illinois RailNet, Inc., et al.

Adam Freeman, a minor, v. St. Mary's Hospital, et al.

Zissler v. OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, et al.

Mary Miller, Administrator of the Estate of Jesse Miller, Deceased, v. Alexander