Chicago Attorney obtains $8.5 million in root canal suit

Georgette Watson, principal of Chicago’s Brentano Math and Science Academy, was under sedation for a routine root canal at the offices of dentists Lawrence and Joseph Feldman. Suddenly, Watson stopped breathing. She ultimately died.

Later, the state investigation found that the two dentists, who are brothers, had not properly obtained Watson’s medical history, nor did they monitor her vital signs while the surgery progressed. The dosage of medication for sedation was also too high. And finally, it was discovered that neither the dentists nor their staff had received proper training to handle such emergencies. A clear case of negligence. Would they be held accountable?

Enter the lawyer. Chicago attorney Larry R. Rogers, Sr. is a founding partner of Power, Rogers, and Smith. Rogers has a history of winning large settlements for his clients. In 1985 he won $27 million for a client in a product liability case, then the largest settlement in Illinois. Recently, he won $55 million for a brain-damaged client in Illinois’ biggest malpractice verdict of the last 10 years.

Rogers did not disappoint in this case. Watson’s sole heir, her 24 year old son Henry Jones, has accepted a $3.9 million payout. This includes a $900,000 annuity that is expected to pay him an additional $4.6 million over his lifetime.

A small consolation for the loss of a mother; and the students of Brentano Academy will never be compensated. Still, there was accountability.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times