Johansen v. Vuocolo

Summary

In this medical malpractice litigation proceeding, plaintiff Yvette Johansen (personal representative of the estate of George Johansen) alleged Philip Vuocolo of negligence in performing thoracic surgery on her husband for suspected lung cancer and unnecessarily removing Mr. Johansens lungs which caused his death a month later.

The plaintiff was represented by attorney Brett Probinsky. The defendant in this case, Philip Vuocolo was represented by attorney Adam Rhys.

The jury found in favor of the defense, concluding that there was no negligence on behalf of Dr. Vuocolo in treating or obtaining informed consent that was a legal cause of the plaintiff's damages.

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Outcome

Verdict for the defense

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Johansen, Yvette
Defense: Vuocolo, Philip

Judge: Dwight Geiger
Jurisdiction: 19th Judicial District of Florida
Court: St. Lucie County Circuit Court

Case Number: 562004CA000256
Industry: Health care
Practice Area: Malpractice, Negligence, Tort Law

Plaintiff

Johansen, Yvette

Represented By:
Probinsky, Brent (Probinsky & Associates)

Defense

Vuocolo, Philip

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:18:39	Opening Statement	Probinsky, Brent
01:00:55	Break
01:18:48	Opening Statement	Rhys, Adam
02:04:09	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Johansen, Yvette	In Person
02:42:26	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Foley , Dr. Michael M.D.	In Person
01:10:58	Break
01:26:10	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Foley , Dr. Michael M.D.	In Person
01:50:45	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Foley , Dr. Michael M.D.	In Person
02:29:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Foley , Dr. Michael M.D.	In Person
02:31:37	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Foley , Dr. Michael M.D.	In Person
02:35:02	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Freeman, Richard M.D.	In Person
00:18:14	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Freeman, Richard M.D.	In Person
01:25:33	Break
01:46:48	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Freeman, Richard M.D.	In Person
02:16:49	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Freeman, Richard M.D.	In Person
02:46:52	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Freeman, Richard M.D.	In Person
02:58:52	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Johansen, Yvette	In Person
01:07:48	Break
01:27:17	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Johansen, Yvette	In Person
02:48:28	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
01:48:09	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Johansen, Yvette	In Person
00:00:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Johansen, Yvette	In Person
01:23:33	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Johansen, Yvette	In Person
02:24:16	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Norton, Robert MD	In Person
00:49:49	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Norton, Robert MD	In Person
00:57:44	Break
02:08:02	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Norton, Robert MD	In Person
02:10:12	General Case Activities
02:14:19	Break
02:24:51	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Blount, Melissa MD	Video Recording
02:40:49	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Blount, Melissa MD	Video Recording
00:42:17	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Blount, Melissa MD	Video Recording
00:56:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Blount, Melissa MD	Video Recording
01:01:37	Break
02:39:53	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Gregg, Patricia MD	Video Recording
02:46:05	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Gregg, Patricia MD	Video Recording
03:04:40	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Gregg, Patricia MD	In Person
03:05:39	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Wertheimer, Dr. David	Transcript Reading
00:25:46	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Cross, Doctor	In Person
01:10:03	Break
01:29:06	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Cross, Doctor	In Person
01:47:14	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Cross, Doctor	In Person
02:00:21	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Cross, Doctor	In Person
02:02:32	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Oliver, Dr. Lawrence	Transcript Reading
02:05:33	General Case Activities
02:11:01	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

JAN

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Rhys, Adam	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
01:01:13	Witness Cross Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
00:36:15	Break
03:36:59	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
01:10:23	Break
01:29:08	Witness Cross Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
02:50:07	End of Session

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
00:35:25	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Rhys, Adam	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
00:56:25	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
01:12:55	Break
01:31:19	Witness Direct Examination	Rhys, Adam	Stowe, Dr. Cary MD	In Person
01:36:54	Witness Cross Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Stowe, Dr. Cary MD	In Person
01:54:30	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Rhys, Adam	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
02:42:54	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Rhys, Adam	Stowe, Dr. Cary MD	In Person
00:04:10	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Stowe, Dr. Cary MD	In Person
01:45:43	Witness Direct Examination	Smillova, Antonia	Blaustein, Dr. Arnold MD	In Person
02:42:44	Witness Cross Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Blaustein, Dr. Arnold MD	In Person
03:05:19	End of Session

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Stowe, Dr. Cary MD	In Person
00:50:12	Break
01:51:25	Witness Direct Examination	Smillova, Antonia	Upadhyay, Dr. Bharat	Transcript Reading
02:29:15	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Smillova, Antonia	Rojo, Dr. Nicholas MD	In Person
		02:08:11	End of Session

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

9 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

FEB

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Johansen v. Vuocolo

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

AudioCaseFiles

Essentials

Training Libraries

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:21:20	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Freeman, Richard M.D.	In Person
01:18:36	Break
01:39:11	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Freeman, Richard M.D.	In Person
02:51:16	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:59	Witness Direct Examination	Rhys, Adam	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
00:51:19	Break
01:09:11	Witness Direct Examination	Rhys, Adam	Vuocolo , Philip	In Person
02:23:44	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:27	Witness Direct Examination	Probinsky, Brent	Wilson, Ms. Elaine	In Person
00:05:37	Witness Cross Examination	Rhys, Adam	Wilson, Ms. Elaine	In Person
00:13:19	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	Closing Statement	Probinsky, Brent
00:54:31	Break
01:12:47	Closing Statement	Rhys, Adam
02:06:37	Closing Statement	Probinsky, Brent
02:37:49	Break
03:00:11	General Case Activities
03:06:02	Break
06:49:01	General Case Activities
06:53:10	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:00:29	Reading of the Verdict
		00:02:08	General Case Activities
		00:44:15	End of Session