Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Greer v. Serafini, No. 2016007772 (Mich. Cir. Ct. Wayne Cnty. July 6, 2018).

Melina Greer, 25, went to a hospital emergency room, complaining of a severe headache, neck pain, and decreased and blurred vision. She received a neurological consultation from neurology resident Basad Essa, who noted having difficulty performing an optic fundus examination. An emergency physician later discharged Greer with a diagnosis of complex migraine. Two days later, she returned to the hospital with complete vision loss. A lumbar puncture led to a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Greer sued neurologist Ruggero Serafini, whom she claimed had consulted on her case during the first hospital visit, alleging failure to timely diagnose intracranial hypertension. Had she undergone a simple fundus examination and lumbar puncture, the plaintiff asserted, she could have been timely treated with acetazolamide and an LP shunt and avoided additional vision loss.

The jury awarded approximately $3 million.

Plaintiff counsel: James Rasor and Michael Ratton, both of Royal Oak, Mich.; and AAJ member Sarah M. Thomas, St. Clair Shores, Mich.