2014–Wins for Clients and Some On-Going Battles for Justice
We wanted to post a year in review style blog post for two purposes. First, to summarize for folks much of what we have been working on in the last year, and two, to remind folks that McMath Woods areas of practice are quite broad. This post will be updated over the next several days.
McMath Woods Client Receives $1.5 million Verdict in Stage IV Pressure Ulcer case
In May of 2014, Neil Chamberlin and Will Bond represented a client in a jury trial in Washington County Circuit Court in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The client had developed a Stage IV pressure ulcer (pressure ulcers are referred to by many as bedsores) while being treated at a Northwest Arkansas hospital. The jury returned a 1.5 million dollar verdict to the client for his injuries and significant complications from the bedsore. Gene Adams, attorney in Jacksonville, also assisted on the case.
Success in Pharmacy Litigation
Charles Harrison of McMath Woods achieved a successful resolution of a medical negligence claim against a South Arkansas pharmacy in an October 2014 mediation. Our client’s deceased mother was given an incorrect prescription medication which she took for nearly a week before the mistake was discovered. This medication caused her significant physical and consciousness-altering complications that persisted for a number of weeks. Although this medical negligence was not a cause of the mother’s death a year later, it did seriously diminish the quality of the last year of her life.
Small Business Owners Achieve Jury Verdict in Jefferson County, Arkansas
Carter Stein had the pleasure of representing a Mom and Pop small business in a breach of contract case in Jefferson County. The small business owners had a motorcycle, ATV, and power products dealership in Pine Bluff for over 60 years before attempting to sell to defendant. The defendant failed to pay the small business owners on one of the franchise purchase contracts. After a three day trial in August 2014, the jury returned a verdict for $127,500, the amount left owing on the franchise purchase contract.
McMath Woods Represents Worker Hit by 18 Wheeler
McMath Woods attorney Will Bond successfully negotiated a seven figure settlement on behalf of an individual struck by an 18 Wheeler. An accident reconstructionist, a trucking expert, and an economist were all retained and produced reports nailing down liability and damages.
McMath Woods Files Appeal on Behalf of Family Suing Amtrak
In May 2013, a 79 year old man from San Antonio, Texas, was traveling on an Amtrak train to Chicago, Illinois for his 80th birthday. He never arrived and his body was found almost a month later near the railroad tracks in rural Clay County, Arkansas. On behalf of the family, McMath Woods sued Amtrak. During the case, McMath Woods learned of 76 other Amtrak passengers who exited moving Amtrak trains between stops over Amtrak’s forty year history. The case is currently on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The appeal was filed in November 2014 by Bruce McMath, Neil Chamberlin, and Carter Stein.
McMath Woods Represents Child Against City of Little Rock
In January 2013, a mother died and her child was brain damaged because of a delayed 911 response by the City of Little Rock. A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the boy’s father against the city in August 2013. The case was amended in 2014 to add multiple city employees and the city’s ambulance provider. Trial is scheduled for July 2015 and will be handled by Bruce McMath, Charles Harrison, and Carter Stein.
McMath Woods Attorney Does Pro Bono Work To Help Keep Minimum Wage Increase on the Ballot
Will Bond volunteered his time and efforts to help the group Give Arkansas a Raise Now defend a legal challenge by Jackson Thomas Stephens, Jr. to the ballot initiative that would raise the minimum wage in Arkansas. Bond assisted attorney David Couch, long involved in the effort to Raise the Wage. Two talented young lawyers, Alexandra Rodery Rouse and Justin Craig, did great work on the case also. After a flurry of litigation, the Arkansas Supreme Court agreed with the Special Master that the initiative remain on the ballot. Arkansans voted in favor of raising the minimum wage beginning in January of 2015.
McMath Woods prior results are no guarantee of future success. McMath Woods P.A. has been in existence in one form or another since 1953. The firm has a rich history, having been founded by Governor Sid McMath, Leland Leatherman, and Judge Henry Woods.