Popsquire

In a 9-3 decision, the jury in the John Ritter wrongful death trial has determined that Ritter’s doctors were not negligent – clearing them of more than $67 million in potential damages sought by Ritter’s family.

Popsquire is confident these doc are singing along to Alanis Morissette’s hit, “Thank U!”

Technorati Tags: amy yasbeck, dr. lee, jack tripper, john ritter, law, medical, pop culture, Wrongful Death

Jurors in the John Ritter wrongful death trial have begun their deliberations.   They must determine: (1) whether the two doctor defendants should be held liable for Ritter’s death; and (2) if so, how much money will compensate Ritter’s family for their loss.

Because you are a faithful Popsquire reader, you previously studied as part of this cram session and analyzed this email submission defending the doctors.  While you await the jury’s decision, check out the “wrongful death” category to the right for additional John Ritter entries.

Stay tuned!

Technorati Tags: amy yasbeck, dr. lee, jack tripper, john ritter, law, medical, pop culture, Wrongful Death

In the interests of creating an interactive and open forum in which everyone can discuss the collision between pop culture and law, Popsquire has decided to share with you an email he received yesterday from a woman named “Florence Lee.”

Notably, one of the defendant’s in the John Ritter wrongful death trial is Dr. Joseph Lee. Popsquire responded to the email to ask if Florence was related to the defendant, but the email bounced back as undeliverable. Nonetheless, Popsquire thinks you will find the email very interesting, especially the opinions expressed at the end.

Before you read the email, you may want to study up with this Popsquire cram session first.

What you might also be interested in, is finding out the facts. According to the LA Times:

1) Ritter was turned down for life insurance 3 years prior to the incident for “incredibly abnormal” blood flows.

2) Ritter’s triglyceride levels were 7 X’s the normal person’s.

3) Ritter was advised by Dr. Lotysch to seek the care of a cardiologist. He did not.

As Popsquire previously informed you would happen, Henry Winkler testified in the John Ritter wrongful death trial today. According to KNBC, the Fonz described his last interaction with Ritter as follows:

“We were talking in the middle of the sound stage…He was sweating, and told me, `You know, I really need to get some water.’ I went one direction and he went the other, and that was the last time I ever saw him.”

“At 9 o’clock, I was called and told he was in the hospital…at 11:30, I was called to say we had lost John.”

Technorati Tags: amy yasbeck, henry winkler, john ritter, law, Medical Malpractice, pop culture, three's company, Wrongful Death

According to KNBC news, Henry Wrinkler (aka, the Fonz) is set to testify today in the John Ritter wrongful death trial.  The attorneys’ opening arguments are over, and Popsquire is confident you need a cram session:

1. Death: On September 11, 2003, Ritter died of a tear in the aorta — aka, an aortic dissection — at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank;
2. Cause: Ritter’s relatives say he was instead mistakenly treated for a heart attack, and they are suing two doctors for $67 million.
3. Settlements: The lawsuit follows settlements with the hospital and eight other medical personnel for about $14 million.
4. The Doctors: The Ritter family claims that a radiologist, Dr. Matthew Lotysch, failed to give Ritter warning of his purportedly enlarged aorta two years before he died, and that Dr. Joseph Lee, the cardiologist called to Ritter’s side the night of his death, failed to order the proper tests to diagnose his condition.
5. The Issue: Central to the case is the claim that Lee failed to have a chest X-ray done before treating Ritter for what appeared to be a heart attack.

Although Popsquire previously assumed that, like most civil litgation, the John Ritter wrongful death case would settle, the trial remains on calendar to start jury selection today. In this interview with Meredith Viera on Today this morning, Amy Yasbeck (Ritter’s widow) explained that she is pushing forward because she wants the doctors to take responsibility.

The Ritter family already has received more than $14 million in previous settlements, including $9.4 million from the hospital where he died. The remaining defendants are two doctors — one who interpreted the results of a body scan Ritter received in 2001 and another who treated him the night he died.

Popsquire’s perspective…

If Popsquire were counsel for the Ritter family, he’d look for jurors who might sympathize with the Ritter family. The might be people who, among other things: (1) have been in the hospital for an emergency procedure; (2) have experienced the loss of a family member, particularly a spouse; and (3) are open to making the rich richer.

Given the potential $67 million collision between pop culture and law at stake in this trial, Popsquire is keenly interested in the outcome of this trial. Stay tuned!

According to People, John Ritter’s family is heading to trial in February in their wrongful death lawsuit, seeking $67 million in damages.  Popsquire finds it hard to believe that the parties can’t reach a settlement — there is plenty of time between now and a February trial.

In the meantime, enjoy this quote from one of the physician defendant’s attorneys, Stephen C. Fraser:  “I really, really believe that for whatever reason, John Ritter’s time was up.”

Well….if you “really, really believe” your client was not at fault, then you must be right.  In fact, Popsquire suggests playing the George Michael hit, “Faith,” in the background during your opening argument. 

That should lock in the jury votes!

Technorati Tags: attorney, john ritter, lawsuit, stephen fraser, Wrongful Death