WILLIAMS VENKER & SANDERS NEWS

ST. LOUIS, MO – March 18, 2008 - Michael Hunter a partner with Williams Venker & Sanders LLC in St. Louis, obtained a defense jury verdict on behalf of a St. Louis hospital in a personal injury suit filed in St. Louis City Circuit Court.

The plaintiff claimed that the defending hospital negligently gave a patient a starter diabetic kit containing a used syringe.  The plaintiff, a friend of the patient’s, asserted the exposed syringe then stuck her when she opened the kit at the request of the patient.  The hospital provided the claimant with free treatment at the emergency room and offered assistance with setting up an appointment with an infectious disease specialist.  However the woman maintained that the hospital’s offer of assistance was neither adequate nor timely, so she never went to see the specialist.

The plaintiff requested $500,000 in damages for the wound, pain and suffering, emotional distress and fear of disease.  While the hospital did not contest that the woman was stuck by the syringe, it denied the syringe was used and that it was negligent.  Furthermore, the hospital contested the validity of the plaintiff’s claims of emotional distress, worry and fear of disease as she failed to seek any follow-up medical treatment.

The jury rendered a unanimous defense verdict for the hospital in one hour.  This is Mr. Hunter’s second favorable verdict in the past three months.

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