Personal Injury Law Firm - Latest News
The Million Dollar Cross Examination
Steven E. Goren recently settled a case for a confidential seven figure amount.
The case was hotly contested, with the defense offering approximately $1 million less than Mr. Goren was demanding as the trial began. The case involved a three-week-old infant who came to a hospital emergency room with a potentially deadly case of meningitis, an infection affecting the brain. The trial concerned how quickly the child got antibiotics, whether there was an unreasonable delay and, if so, what harm was caused by the delay.
The records were conflicting as to whether antibiotics were given in the Emergency Room or delayed for approximately four extra hours. Trial was in the third day when Mr. Goren called the Defendant's nurse to the witness stand. Cross examination lasted all morning, building to a dramatic moment when the witness was asked to explain if she agreed with her attorney's claim that the "only explanation" was antibiotics had been given in the Emergency Room. She agreed with her lawyer. However, Mr. Goren led her, question by question, until she admitted that she could not agree with the statement made by her own lawyer to the jury during opening statements.
"There are not many true Perry Mason moments in court when the witness crumbles, changes testimony, and agrees with his or her accuser," Mr. Goren noted.
After the witness' admission, court adjourned for lunch. After lunch, Defendant agreed to pay what Mr. Goren had been demanding all along.
