Jeanne Anne Steffin
Attorney-At-Law

"When deserving people need special legal help..."

Call: 626-235-1173
Email: jeanneannesteffin@gmail.com

 

Representative Cases

These are actual patients whose cases have been prosecuted in this office.

 

 

Quadriplegia, Paraplegia

Hangman’s Fracture Unrecognized

            This is a high cervical fracture involving the odontoid process between the first and second vertebrae.  It was caused a fall onto pavement.

            Despite frequent visits to the VA because of severe neck pain and neurological problems including weakness and numbness, the fracture was missed
               by both treating doctors and in X-rays for a month.

            Surgery delayed.

            Result:  Severe total body weakness (quadriparesis), incontinence, and loss of sexual function.

            Total disability

 

CERVICAL DISC UNRECOGNIZED

                        (Multiple cases)

            Surgery delayed.

            Quadriplegia.

            Result: Total disability, incontinence.

 

CERVICAL DISC SURGERY NEGLIGENTLY PERFORMED

                        (Multiple cases)

            Spinal cord injury

            Result: Severe total body weakness, incontinence

 

CERVICAL EPIDURAL ABSCESS (HIGH NECK INFECTION COMPRESSING SPINAL CORD)

                        (Multiple cases)

            Neck pain, fever, and paralysis, and incontinence missed over several days in hospitalized patients despite developing paralysis.  Wrong imaging studies performed.  Paralysis not                   appreciated by examiners until too late.

            Surgery and antibiotic therapy delayed.

            Result:  Severe weakness below neck (quadriplegia), incontinence, loss of sexual function.

                   Total disability.

 

THORACIC EPIDURAL ABSCESS (MID BACK INFECTION) COMPRESSING SPINAL CORD

                        (Multiple Cases)

            Back pain, fever, and paralysis missed over several days in hospitalized patients despite developing paralysis.  Wrong imaging studies performed.  Paralysis not appreciated by examiners                    until too late.  Wong imaging studies performed.

            Surgery and antibiotic therapy delayed.

            Results:  Severe weakness below waist (paraplegia), incontinence, loss of sexual function.  Total disability.

 

Cauda Equina Syndrome: Leg paralysis, incontinence

LUMBAR DISC HERNATION MISSED IN YOUNG FATHER.  CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME.

            Sudden onset severe of back pain.  Weakness and numbness missed by examiners.  Delayed review of imaging studies.

            Result:  Cauda Equina (lower nerve roots in back) compression causing loss of function of legs, urine incontinence, and loss of sexual function.

 

LUMBAR STENOSIS (NARROWING).  PROGRESSIVE CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME.

            Progressive back pain, leg weakness, and incontinence.

            Surgical follow-up delayed for many months.

            Result: Cauda Equina syndrome with severe leg weakness, numbness, incontinence, and loss of sexual function.

 

 

Metastatic Cancer: Lung, Prostate, Colon

LUNG CANCER MISSED

                        (Multiple Cases)

            X-rays misread or not performed.

            Delays months to years.

            Results: Incurable, fatal.

 

PROSTATE CANCER MISSED

                        (Multiple cases)

            PSA test not performed or results lost, no follow up

            Digital rectal exam not performed.

            Results: Fatal.

 

COLON CANCER MISSED

            Severe anemia ignored. until too late.

            Delayed X-ray and colonoscopy.

            Result:  Incurable, Fatal.

 

BENIGN COLON DISORDER MISDIAGNOSED AS CANCER

            Pathology negative for cancer.  Radical colon removal performed anyway.

            Result:  Permanent colostomy.  Total disability.

 

 

Heart Attack, Heart Damage,

SEVERE CHEST PAIN WITH PAIN GOING DOWN LEFT ARM

                        (Multiple Cases)

            No examination or cardiogram.

            Heart attack misdiagnosed as “acid reflux” or entirely ignored.

            Result: Severe (total) disability with heart failure.

 

 

Heart, lung transplant

Heart, Lung Disease aggravated by incorrect medication

        Heart-Lung transplant necessary because of lung damage from incorrect medication.

          Result: Fatal.

 

Brain Damage: Stroke

AUDITORY NERVE TUMOR REMOVAL

            Surgery performed negligently.

            Result:  Severe stroke.

 

BRAIN HEMORRHAGE MISSED

                        (Multiple Cases)

            Aneurysm rupture: Fatal.

            Bleeding around brain (Subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma:

            Fatalities, severe strokes.

 

CAROTID SURGERY NEGLIGENTLY PERFORMED

        Clot left in artery.

          Result: Stroke, paralysis.

 

Abdominal Aneurysm Surgery: Leg Paralysis, Incontinence, Amputations

SURGERY NEGLIGENTLY PERFORMED

                (Multiple cases)

        Spinal cord damage

          Kidney damage

          Pressure sores

          Amputations at hip level

          Fatality

 

Psychiatric illness ignored
PSYCHOSIS UNDTREATED

          Result: Suicide
PTSD UNTREATED
          Drug Overdose
          Result: Fatal.

 

ER Negligence

ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL MISTREATMENT (NEGLIGENCE)

            Patient “tackled” in ER by security team.  Severe hip fracture.

 

 

COMPENSATION FOR

        Loss of independence

        Lifelong Suffering and Devastating Economic Loss

 

 

 

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