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%

Med Mal Trial Set to Open Over Stroke That Left Georgia Man With "Locked-In Syndrome"
Oct 3, 2022

Trial Opens in $200M Med Mal Suit Over Stroke That Left GA Man With "Locked-In Syndrome"
Oct 6, 2022

$75M Verdict in Med Mal Trial Over Stroke That Profoundly Paralyzed Patient
Oct 24, 2022

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
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
00:58:31	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hall, John	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
01:14:32	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Weathington, Paul	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
01:16:40	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
01:20:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hall, John	Robinson-Sotack, Joyce	In Person
01:23:56	General Case Activities
01:26:43	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
01:41:12	Break
02:37:12	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:10:47	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:28:27	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:31:47	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:45:17	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:46:24	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities	Bell, Lloyd
00:00:40	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
01:20:23	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
01:46:43	Break
02:05:12	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
02:16:48	Witness Cross Examination	Bailey , Scott	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
02:32:53	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
02:37:28	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

14 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
00:06:44	General Case Activities	Weathington, Paul	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
00:11:49	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
00:30:14	Break
00:38:47	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
01:49:24	Break
02:03:19	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:09:54	Break
03:17:42	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:22:19	Witness Cross Examination	Bailey , Scott	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:29:42	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:32:39	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:38:56	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Bailey , Scott	Faigle, Dr. Romanus M.D.	In Person
03:40:14	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
00:22:20	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
00:49:44	Witness Cross Examination	Kanik, Beth	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
00:52:54	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
01:05:54	Break
01:28:32	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
02:07:59	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
03:10:19	Break
03:23:34	General Case Activities
03:25:04	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
00:28:16	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
00:39:38	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
00:40:22	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
00:42:05	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
01:00:48	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Hall, John	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
01:07:13	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
01:10:19	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Lutz, Dr. Martin M.D.	In Person
01:11:35	Break
01:41:40	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
02:59:20	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
03:41:55	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

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

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

16 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
01:00:52	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
01:46:55	Break
02:06:05	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
02:15:25	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
02:16:25	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
02:24:31	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Mancuso, Dr. Anthony M.D.	In Person
02:26:55	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
00:03:17	Break
00:25:17	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
01:12:53	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
01:50:38	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
01:52:05	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
02:03:27	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Hall, John	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
02:04:57	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

17 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:03:39	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:14:09	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:16:33	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:18:01	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:19:18	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Hall, John	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:21:21	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Drexinger, Dr. Bernard MD	In Person
00:24:18	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Janice	In Person
00:59:38	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Buckelew, Janice	In Person
01:03:08	Break
01:18:18	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	Video Conference
01:44:03	Witness Cross Examination	Kanik, Beth	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	Video Conference
01:50:33	Witness Cross Examination		Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	In Person
01:51:53	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	Video Conference
01:53:51	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	In Person
01:54:37	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Fadia, Dr. Payal M.D.	In Person
01:57:38	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
00:39:13	Break
01:23:53	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
01:48:46	Witness Cross Examination	Akinosho, Sarah	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
02:20:38	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
02:30:25	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Adamski, Jennifer	In Person
02:34:08	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Gragg-Smith, Cathy R.N.	In Person
00:35:35	Break
00:52:10	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Gragg-Smith, Cathy R.N.	In Person
01:19:26	Witness Cross Examination	Kanik, Beth	Gragg-Smith, Cathy R.N.	In Person
01:28:55	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
01:59:27	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
02:00:15	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
02:03:30	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
02:04:22	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Christin	In Person
02:05:30	Break
02:22:40	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Michael	In Person
02:46:30	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Buckelew, Brittany	In Person
02:56:35	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Buckelew, Jonathan	In Person
00:15:32	Break
00:58:47	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Buckelew, Jack	In Person
01:31:52	Break
01:50:32	Witness Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Buckelew, Jack	In Person
01:55:51	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Buckelew, Jack	In Person
02:03:52	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Mackenzie, David	Lavania, Dr. Sachin M.D.	In Person
00:30:55	Witness Cross Examination	Frankson, Michael	Lavania, Dr. Sachin M.D.	In Person
00:37:24	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Lavania, Dr. Sachin M.D.	In Person
00:41:47	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Lavania, Dr. Sachin M.D.	In Person
00:45:50	Witness Direct Examination	Bailey , Scott	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
01:08:25	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
01:12:40	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bailey , Scott	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
01:14:10	Witness Direct Examination	Weathington, Paul	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
01:33:55	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
01:51:06	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Futrell, Dr. Peter M.D.	In Person
01:53:30	Break
02:15:00	Witness Direct Examination	Mathis, Brian	Nickum, Christopher	In Person
02:25:20	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Hall, John	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
00:56:23	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
01:20:23	Witness Cross Examination	Frankson, Michael	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
01:25:50	Break
01:41:25	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
02:01:35	Break
02:22:40	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
02:47:00	Break
03:17:15	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:19:40	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hall, John	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:25:27	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:27:50	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hall, John	Delaney, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
03:29:05	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Mathis, Brian	Carpenter, David	In Person
00:48:51	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Carpenter, David	In Person
01:29:43	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Mathis, Brian	Carpenter, David	In Person
01:33:55	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Carpenter, David	In Person
01:36:25	Break
02:02:45	Witness Direct Examination	Weathington, Paul	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
02:21:10	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
02:27:30	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
02:28:56	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
02:50:18	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Weathington, Paul	Russell, Dr. Christopher M.D.	In Person
02:53:00	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Green, Henry	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
00:22:40	Break
00:33:10	Witness Direct Examination	Green, Henry	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:12:00	Witness Cross Examination	Mackenzie, David	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:13:21	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:19:58	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Gaughen, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:38:45	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
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Kanik, Beth	Shavelle, Dr. Robert Ph.D.	In Person
00:19:53	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Shavelle, Dr. Robert Ph.D.	In Person
01:05:05	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kanik, Beth	Shavelle, Dr. Robert Ph.D.	In Person
01:08:03	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Shavelle, Dr. Robert Ph.D.	In Person
01:08:48	Break
01:28:05	Witness Direct Examination	Akinosho, Sarah	Lane, Linda	In Person
01:57:53	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Lane, Linda	In Person
02:53:12	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Lane, Linda	In Person
02:54:27	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Akinosho, Sarah	Lane, Linda	In Person
02:57:08	Witness Direct Examination	Hall, John	Lauretee, Dr.	Transcript Reading
03:29:43	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Shamp, Laura	Cole, Dr. Richard	Transcript Reading
		00:17:10	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
00:00:00	General Case Activities	Bell, Lloyd	Shamp, Laura	In Person
00:19:18	General Case Activities	Hall, John	Shamp, Laura	In Person
00:24:58	General Case Activities	Bell, Lloyd	Shamp, Laura	In Person
00:26:48	General Case Activities	Shamp, Laura	Bell, Lloyd	In Person
00:36:48	General Case Activities	Hall, John	Bell, Lloyd	In Person
00:37:38	Witness Direct Examination	Hall, John	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
00:40:14	Witness Cross Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Womack, Dr. Matthew M.D.	In Person
00:41:37	Closing Statement	Hall, John
00:48:58	Closing Statement	Bell, Lloyd
00:55:43	General Case Activities
01:02:23	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

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:50	Witness Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
00:22:56	Witness Cross Examination	Kanik, Beth	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
00:25:30	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
00:32:19	Witness Cross Examination	Huff, Daniel	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
00:39:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
00:59:15	Break
01:09:45	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Green, Henry	Nogueira, Dr. Robert M.D.	In Person
01:15:30	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Bell, Lloyd	Waxman, Dr. Aaron M.D.	Video Conference
01:37:38	Witness Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
02:39:55	Witness Cross Examination	Hall, John	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:08:52	Witness Cross Examination	Weathington, Paul	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:10:30	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Shamp, Laura	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:12:59	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Hall, John	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:14:09	Witness Cross Examination	Mathis, Brian	Waldschmidt, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:15:23	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