Lynne N. Nahmani

Successfully defended a chiropractor with a directed verdict on informed consent and a no cause, 7-0, on standard of care. Plaintiff claimed the defendant was negligent in failing to obtain a MRI before adjusting the lumbar spine with a differential diagnosis which included a herniated or bulging disc. Plaintiff claimed increased risk of harm for foot drop, surgery, pain and suffering and alteration in work and life enjoyment.

Secured a directed verdict in a subacute rehab case. The plaintiffs claimed their father, who suffered from dysphagia, was negligently left unattended to choke and die in his room by the nursing staff while eating breakfast. At the close of plaintiff’s case, three motions for directed verdict were made. The court eventually agreed that the plaintiffs had not met their burden on causation with the expert testimony.

Represented general surgeon called in to perform emergency laparoscopic appendectomy. Five days after uneventful surgery and discharge, plaintiff is transported via medivac to a tertiary care facility for an emergent splenectomy. Defense successfully utilized literature and expert testimony both on direct and cross examination that, however rare, splenic injury can occur after laparoscopic procedure due to the insufflation of the abdomen in the presence of adhesions. Jury returned a verdict for the defense.

Represented mental health institution whereby a depressed and bipolar 28-year-old father and husband was receiving outpatient treatment when he locked himself in his truck, covered himself with gasoline and struck a match, only to survive. Plaintiff suffered second and third degree burns over more than 70 percent of his body. He lived severely disfigured with no facial features and no arms below the elbows. Plaintiff claimed defendant facility failed to recognize plaintiff's suicide risk and was ill-equipped to handle patients with a dual diagnosis. Successfully defended at mediation.

Jury returned a defense verdict for general surgeon who took an 89-year-old to surgery for treatment of diverticulitis and made the medical judgment not to remove the affected colon once the patient's vital signs took a turn for the worse during surgery. Decision to get the patient out of surgery and treat with antibiotics was not successful as the patient died within 48 hours. Defense convinced the jury that the surgeon was not negligent, rather, he exercised medical judgment in making this decision.

Defendant hospital granted summary judgment in a case where it was alleged the hospital failed to provide an appropriate and complete background check subsequent to employing a nurse who was later accused of killing patients within the institution. Claims dismissed on jurisdiction and lack of patient-physician relationship.

Obtained a defense directed verdict in a nursing home trial against a well-known plaintiffs' firm. Allegations included violations of the NJ Nursing Home statute with damages for a Stage IV decubiti, loss of dignity and requests for statutory counsel fees. Testimony from ex-employees and family members was introduced to suggest the resident was left for many hours unattended, double diapered and dirty. Plaintiffs never came off a $1 million dollar demand.