Buckelew, et al. v. Womack, et al.

Summary

In this medical malpractice case, plaintiff seeks to recover damages for a stroke that has left him with "locked-in syndrome," cognitively aware but unable to move any part of his body other than his eyes.

Outcome

Verdict for plaintiff.
Total damages: $75 million.

Apportionment of fault:
Dr. Matthew Womack, 60%
Dr. James Waldschmidt, 40%

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Buckelew, Jonathan
Defense: Womack, Matthew
Waldschmidt, James
Futrell, Peter
North Fulton Neurology
Nickum, Christopher
North Fulton Medical Center
Verdict: $75,000,000

Judge: Eric Richardson
Jurisdiction: Superior Court of Georgia, Fulton County
Court: Justice Center Tower

Case Number: 17EV004146
Industry: Health care
Practice Area: Health Law

Plaintiff

Buckelew, Jonathan

Represented By:
Shamp, Laura (Shamp Silk)

Defense

Womack, Matthew

Defense

Waldschmidt, James

Represented By:
Frankson, Michael (Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC)

Defense

Futrell, Peter

Represented By:
Weathington, Paul (Weathington, LLC)

Defense

North Fulton Neurology

Represented By:
Monyak, Robert (Peters & Monyak, LLP)

Defense

Nickum, Christopher

Represented By:
Mackenzie, David (Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC)
Mathis, Brian (Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC)

Defense

North Fulton Medical Center

Represented By:
Huff, Daniel (Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC)

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:14:50	Opening Statement	Shamp, Laura
01:15:00	Break
01:31:10	Opening Statement	Kanik, Beth
01:59:17	Opening Statement	Frankson, Michael
02:22:20	Opening Statement	Weathington, Paul
02:53:25	Opening Statement	Monyak, Robert
03:03:12	Opening Statement	Mackenzie, David
03:27:00	Opening Statement	Huff, Daniel
03:43:08	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:22:40	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
01:21:11	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hall, John	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
01:37:12	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Weathington, Paul	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
01:39:20	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
01:43:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hall, John	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
01:46:36	General Case Activities
01:49:23	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:17:03	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
01:58:15	Break
02:54:15	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:27:50	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:45:30	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:48:50	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
04:02:20	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
04:03:27	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:17:07	General Case Activities	Bell, Lloyd
00:17:47	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
01:37:30	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
02:03:50	Break
02:22:19	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
02:33:55	Witness Cross Examination	Bailey , Scott	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
02:50:00	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
02:54:35	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

14 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:14:36	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
00:21:20	General Case Activities	Weathington, Paul	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
00:26:25	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
00:44:50	Break
00:53:23	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
02:04:00	Break
02:17:55	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:24:30	Break
03:32:18	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:36:55	Witness Cross Examination	Bailey , Scott	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:44:18	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:47:15	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:53:32	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Bailey , Scott	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:54:50	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:46:06	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
01:08:26	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
01:35:50	Witness Cross Examination	Kanik, Beth	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
01:39:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
01:52:00	Break
02:14:38	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
02:54:05	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
03:56:25	Break
04:09:40	General Case Activities
04:11:10	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:14:20	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
00:42:36	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
00:53:58	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
00:54:42	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
00:56:25	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
01:15:08	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Hall, John	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
01:21:33	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
01:24:39	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
01:25:55	Break
01:56:00	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
03:13:40	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
03:56:15	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:08:00	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
		00:38:30	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

16 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:36:40	General Case Activities
00:39:30	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
00:59:36	Witness Cross Examination	Kanik, Beth	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
01:02:10	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
01:08:59	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
01:16:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
01:35:55	Break
01:46:25	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
01:52:10	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
02:14:18	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:16:35	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:45:32	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:47:10	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:49:39	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Hall, John	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:50:49	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:52:03	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:24:35	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
01:25:27	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
02:11:30	Break
02:30:40	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
02:40:00	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
02:41:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
02:49:06	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
02:51:30	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
01:26:43	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
01:30:00	Break
01:52:00	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
02:39:36	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
03:17:21	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
03:18:48	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
03:30:10	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Hall, John	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
03:31:40	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

17 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:10:17	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:13:56	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:24:26	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:26:50	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:28:18	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:29:35	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Hall, John	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:31:38	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:34:35	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Janice	In Person
01:09:55	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Buckelew, Janice	In Person
01:13:25	Break
01:28:35	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	Video Conference
01:54:20	Witness Cross Examination	Kanik, Beth	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	Video Conference
02:00:50	Witness Cross Examination		Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	In Person
02:02:10	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	Video Conference
02:04:08	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	In Person
02:04:54	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	In Person
02:07:55	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:13:47	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
00:53:00	Break
01:37:40	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
02:02:33	Witness Cross Examination	Akinosho, Sarah	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
02:34:25	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
02:44:12	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
02:47:55	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:21:20	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Gragg-Smith, Cathy R.N.	In Person
00:56:55	Break
01:13:30	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Gragg-Smith, Cathy R.N.	In Person
01:40:46	Witness Cross Examination	Kanik, Beth	Gragg-Smith, Cathy R.N.	In Person
01:50:15	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
02:20:47	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
02:21:35	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
02:24:50	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
02:25:42	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
02:26:50	Break
02:44:00	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Michael	In Person
03:07:50	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Brittany	In Person
03:17:55	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:28:28	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Buckelew, Jonathan	In Person
00:44:00	Break
01:27:15	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Buckelew, Jack	In Person
02:00:20	Break
02:19:00	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Buckelew, Jack	In Person
02:24:19	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Buckelew, Jack	In Person
02:32:20	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:22:50	Witness Direct Examination	Mackenzie, David	Lavania, Dr. Sachin M.D.	In Person
00:53:45	Witness Cross Examination	Frankson, Michael	Lavania, Dr. Sachin M.D.	In Person
01:00:14	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Lavania, Dr. Sachin M.D.	In Person
01:04:37	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Lavania, Dr. Sachin M.D.	In Person
01:08:40	Witness Direct Examination	Bailey , Scott	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
01:31:15	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
01:35:30	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bailey , Scott	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
01:37:00	Witness Direct Examination	Weathington, Paul	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
01:56:45	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
02:13:56	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
02:16:20	Break
02:37:50	Witness Direct Examination	Mathis, Brian	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
02:48:10	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:43:00	Witness Direct Examination	Hall, John	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
01:39:23	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
02:03:23	Witness Cross Examination	Frankson, Michael	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
02:08:50	Break
02:24:25	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
02:44:35	Break
03:05:40	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:30:00	Break
04:00:15	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
04:02:40	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hall, John	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
04:08:27	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
04:10:50	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hall, John	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
04:12:05	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:12:10	Witness Direct Examination	Mathis, Brian	Carpenter, David	In Person
01:01:01	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Carpenter, David	In Person
01:41:53	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Mathis, Brian	Carpenter, David	In Person
01:46:05	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Carpenter, David	In Person
01:48:35	Break
02:14:55	Witness Direct Examination	Weathington, Paul	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
02:33:20	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
02:39:40	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
02:41:06	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
03:02:28	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Weathington, Paul	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
03:05:10	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:23:00	Witness Direct Examination	Green, Henry	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
00:45:40	Break
00:56:10	Witness Direct Examination	Green, Henry	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:35:00	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:36:21	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:42:58	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
02:01:45	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
00:11:05	Break
00:26:32	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
00:41:40	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Green, Henry	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
00:50:40	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
00:52:15	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
00:57:47	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
00:59:25	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:28:07	Witness Direct Examination	Kanik, Beth	Shavelle, Dr. Robert Ph.D.	In Person
00:48:00	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Shavelle, Dr. Robert Ph.D.	In Person
01:33:12	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kanik, Beth	Shavelle, Dr. Robert Ph.D.	In Person
01:36:10	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Shavelle, Dr. Robert Ph.D.	In Person
01:36:55	Break
01:56:12	Witness Direct Examination	Akinosho, Sarah	Lane, Linda	In Person
02:26:00	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Lane, Linda	In Person
03:21:19	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Lane, Linda	In Person
03:22:34	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Akinosho, Sarah	Lane, Linda	In Person
03:25:15	Witness Direct Examination	Hall, John	Lauretee, Dr.	Transcript Reading
03:57:50	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:19:15	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Cole, Dr. Richard	Transcript Reading
		00:36:25	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Closings

6 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

7 Chapters

OCT

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

5 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es) - Damages

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
01:22:02	General Case Activities	Bell, Lloyd	Shamp, Laura	In Person
01:41:20	General Case Activities	Hall, John	Shamp, Laura	In Person
01:47:00	General Case Activities	Bell, Lloyd	Shamp, Laura	In Person
01:48:50	General Case Activities	Shamp, Laura	Bell, Lloyd	In Person
01:58:50	General Case Activities	Hall, John	Bell, Lloyd	In Person
01:59:40	Witness Direct Examination	Hall, John	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
02:02:16	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
02:03:39	Closing Statement	Hall, John
02:11:00	Closing Statement	Bell, Lloyd
02:17:45	General Case Activities
02:24:25	End of Session

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Other

3 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

3 Chapters

OCT

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Buckelew, et al. v. Womack, et al.

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

AudioCaseFiles

Essentials

Training Libraries

	Description	Attorney
00:27:36	Closing Statement	Shamp, Laura
02:01:20	Break
02:27:37	Closing Statement	Hall, John
03:03:40	Closing Statement	Bailey , Scott
03:37:35	Closing Statement	Weathington, Paul
04:17:15	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:17:25	Closing Statement	Monyak, Robert
00:55:40	Closing Statement	Mathis, Brian
01:34:18	Closing Statement	Huff, Daniel
01:56:00	Break
02:09:25	Closing Statement	Bell, Lloyd
03:42:30	General Case Activities
04:18:15	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Reading of the Verdict
		00:04:48	General Case Activities
		00:05:50	Break
		00:12:12	General Case Activities
		00:14:57	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:15	General Case Activities
		00:04:15	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Reading of the Verdict
		00:05:15	General Case Activities
		00:07:45	End of Session