ATLANTA – October 27, 2022 – A Fulton County jury ruled in favor of a Georgia man after a stroke, and subsequent medical negligence left him with “locked-in syndrome,” cognitively aware but unable to move any part of his body other than his eyes. Plaintiff Jonathan Buckelew was represented by lead counsel Laura Shamp of Shamp Silk and co-counsel Lloyd Bell of Bell Law Firm. During the three-week trial, Shamp, Bell and team proved emergency room physician Dr. Matthew Womack and radiologist Dr. James Waldschmidt acted negligently and failed to meet the applicable standards of care.
In October 2015, Jonathan Buckelew collapsed and became unresponsive during a chiropractic visit. The 32-year-old was transported to Roswell, Georgia’s North Fulton Medical Center, where several healthcare professionals failed to properly identify that he was suffering a brain stem stroke. He wasn’t diagnosed until the following day, and this critical delay caused his profound brain damage and catastrophic paralysis.
Buckelew and his wife were awarded $75 million as a result of the successful medical malpractice case. In its October 20 verdict, the jury found Dr. Womack a North Fulton Emergency physician 60% at fault for the damages and apportioned the remaining verdict to Dr. Waldschmidt for missing the arterial blockage causing the stroke when he read the images Womack ordered.
“This case is heartbreaking because Jonathan’s paralysis and brain damage were completely avoidable,” stated Lloyd Bell. “If the slew of healthcare providers involved in Jonathan’s care would have acted according to the standard of care, caught and treated his stroke earlier, and communicated more effectively, Jonathan’s life would look entirely different.”
“It was an honor to be pulled into this case and work alongside Laura Shamp to deliver the justice that the Buckelew family deserves,” continued Bell. “We know it can’t give Jonathan back the life he led before this awful situation, but we hope that holding these doctors accountable will prevent the suffering of any additional patients.”
More details about Buckelew, et al. v. Womack, et al. can be found here. For more information about Bell Law Firm’s mission to help victims of medical malpractice, visit www.belllawfirm.com.
###
About Bell Law Firm
Bell Law Firm is Georgia’s preeminent firm for victims of medical malpractice. Founded in 1999 by Lloyd Bell, the firm has recovered more than $100 million for patients and families of people injured or killed due to medical negligence. Bell has more than 25 years of experience in federal and state courts, and he has represented clients in more than 75 jury trials and hundreds of successful settlements. Bell Law firm differentiates itself with deep legal expertise, proficient technology use in the courtroom, and compelling storytelling. Firm founder Lloyd Bell is one of only two Georgia lawyers to be invited to join the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only organization of the top 100 trial lawyers in the country. For more information, please visit www.belllawfirm.com.