South Carolina Hospitals Overcharging Uninsured Patients Multi-Million Dollar Settlement

For years, hospitals have charged patients without insurance substantially more than patients with insurance. In some situations, hospitals charge uninsured patients well over 100% of what they charge patients with insurance for the same treatment and procedures. In 2004, the Law Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A. along with four other law firms combined forces to sue several state hospitals in a class-action for overcharging uninsured patients. We claim it is unfair and unlawful to charge those patients without insurance more than those patients with insurance. Several hospitals have already settled these lawsuits with us. The settlements have resulted in hospitals reducing their rates in the future to uninsured patients and refunding uninsured patients who over paid their hospital bill because of the inflated charges. We continue to pursue those hospitals who have not agreed to settle.

Confidential Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death Settlement

A patient at an area hospital was admitted for routine surgery to the leg. Following surgery, the patient developed severe pulmonary problems that were not appropriately treated. Tragically, the patient died the same day. The Law Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A. represented the family in a wrongful death and medical malpractice claim against the hospital and doctors. After several years of hard fought litigation and denials of wrong doing by the hospital and doctors involved, the case was settled in 2009. The terms of the settlement provide that the amounts remain strictly confidential.

Confidential Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death Settlement

A patient developed heart problems following a routine colonscopy procedure. She was admitted to a local hospital and died two days later of heart problems. The Law Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A. represented the family. An independent review of the patients medical records revealed that she suffered a heart attack that was not recognized or treated by the attending physician. The attending physician denied these allegations and a wrongful death and medical malpractice lawsuit ensued. The case was litigated for three years and settled just before trial. The terms of the settlement provide that the amounts remain strictly confidential.

$808,000.00 Legal Malpractice Settlement

Client sustained serious and permanent neck and back injuries after being arrested by local police. The client initially hired two local law firms to represent him against various defendants for unnecessary force. The law firms settled one portion of the clients case but did not file another portion of the lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations. That case was dismissed and the client subsequently hired the Law Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A. to pursue a legal malpractice claim. After several years of litigation, the case settled with both law firms for $808,000.00.

$360,000.00 Workers Compensation Settlement

An electrician sustained serious injuries after an electrical injury on the job. He was seen and treated by a variety of doctors including doctors at the Mayo Clinic. The case was settled in 2009 for $360,000.00. The settlement also provided ongoing medical treatment for the remainder of the clients life for the injuries he sustained at work.

Confidential Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death Settlement

A patient was injured in an automobile wreck. He was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for various injuries. The patient received very little treatment in his first 2 and a half hours at the hospital. He was eventually taken for X-rays and immediately following the X-rays he suffered cardiac arrest. X-rays and other medical records indicated that he died from internal bleeding. In a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit, the doctors and hospital involved denied any wrong doing. The case settled in 2008 shortly after a defense expert admitted under oath that the patients death was probably caused because of internal injuries that were not treated. The terms of the settlement provide that the amounts remain strictly confidential.

$200,000.00 Automobile Accident Settlement

Client was severally injured when a car he was riding in ran off the road and rolled over several times. After an extensive investigation, it was determined that the at fault driver had no assets and limited insurance coverage. The case was settled in 2008 for $200,000 and the client has been fortunate to make a good recovery from his injuries.

Confidential Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death Settlement

A patient at an area hospital developed a pressure ulcer. The pressure ulcer went largely untreated until it became badly infected. The infection spread and ultimately resulted in the patients death. After three independent experts offered sworn testimony of malpractice by the hospital, nurses and doctors involved, a confidential settlement was reached in 2007.

Confidential Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death Settlement

Patient complained of severe abdominal pain and cramping and saw two doctors on several different occasions. She was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst and told that her pain was caused because of the ovarian cyst. In addition to the ovarian cyst, the patient also had a small bowel obstruction which eventually led to a massive infection (sepsis) that resulted in the patients death. The family hired the Law Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A. and a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit was brought. The physicians involved denied all acts of malpractice. After lengthy and protracted litigation, the case was settled in 2007. The terms of the settlement provide that the amounts remain strictly confidential.

$200,000.00 Medical Malpractice Settlement

Patient underwent a routine procedure at her OBGYN known as a D&C procedure. During the procedure, the OBGYN ruptured the patients uterus and later lab tests confirmed the perforation. Despite this perforation, the OBGYN failed to advise the patient to seek medical treatment. Because the patient did not get medical treatment immediately, she developed a serious infection (sepsis) and was eventually hospitalized. A lawsuit ensured and the OBGYN claimed that he told the patient to immediately seek medical treatment even though he had no supporting records. The case was settled in 2007 for $200,000.

$425,000.00 Automobile and Truck Accident Settlement

Client was injured when an automobile he was riding in rear-ended a truck. An investigation by the Law Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A. revealed that not only was the car driver negligent but the truck driver was negligent. A lawsuit against both at-fault drivers resulted in a $425,000 settlement in 2006.

Confidential Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death Settlement

Patient was seen at a hospital emergency room where she complained of chest pain and other symptoms indicative of a heart attack. Testing revealed evidence of a heart attack but the patient was released to go home. She died of heart attack ten days later. The family hired the Law Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A. to pursue a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit. An investigation showed that the ER physician had written in the medical records that the patient had heartburn and to try Tums. When this was discovered, a confidential settlement was reached in 2005.

Confidential Medical Malpractice Settlement

Patient of a North Carolina hospital had routine surgery. The surgery appeared uncomplicated until years later and the patient began to experience severe abdominal pain and noticed a large knot in her abdomen. An X-ray by her family doctor revealed that the hospital had left a large surgical sponge inside the patients abdomen. A bitterly fought case that made the local media eventually resulted in a confidential settlement in 2005. Today, the client has fully recovered from her injuries and lives with her husband.

$851,000.00 Automobile Accident and Workers Compensation Settlement

A client was severely injured while on the job when he was rear-ended by another vehicle. The client received a total of $851,000.00 in settlement from his workers compensation case and his case against the at-fault driver. The cases were settled in 2004 and 2005.

$295,000 Automobile Accident Settlement

Client was a passenger in a car that ran off the road and crashed causing severe injuries and hospitalization to the client. An in-depth investigation by the Law Offices of Robert Dodson discovered that another vehicle was also involved. The cases were settled in 2004 and 2005 for $295,000. Today, the client has fully recovered from her injuries and is very active in the community where she works with children.