Defense Verdict for Robert Melnick in Nassau County!

Senior trial partner Robert Melnick and his litigation team obtained a defense verdict on behalf of an orthopedic spine surgeon in a case involving claims that pedicle screws were misplaced during a spinal decompression and fusion surgery. Plaintiff claimed that the negligently performed surgery resulted in total disability, the inability to work, and permanent, severe and debilitating pain requiring significant opiate pain medication and the need for further surgery.  Among the hurdles the defense overcame, was a subsequent spine surgeon’s operative report, documenting that the screws were improperly placed and causing the plaintiff’s symptomatology. Notwithstanding this obstacle, Mr. Melnick was able to establish that the placement of the pedicle screws was proper and that none of the plaintiff’s symptoms following the surgery were caused by the initial pedicle screw placement.  Within 30 minutes of being given the case to deliberate, the Nassau County jury returned a verdict for the defendants.

It is worth noting that the defendant physician was uninsured in a case with significant personal exposure should a jury have found for the plaintiff. Congratulations to Mr. Melnick, and his trial team, including associate, Robert Isabella, Of Counsel, Nicole Itkin, and appellate counsel, Elliott Zucker, on such an excellent result.